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Brick  Church  Memorial, 
1699-1877. 

The  Days  of  Old 


AND  THEIR  COMMEMORATION. 


Wednesday,  September  ^,   i<?77- 


COMPILED  BY 


OW/ 


Rev.  Theodore   W.   Wells,   Pastor  of    the    Church. 


MARLBOROUGH  : 
Published  by  Request,  under  the  Direction  of  the  Consistoiy- 


.877. 


r*- 


/ 


;^^ 


V 


Brick  Church  Memorial, 


NOV  20  19'' 


1699-1877 


The  Days  of  Old 


AND    THEIR  COMMEMORATION. 


Wednesday,  September  5,   i<?77. 


COMPILED    BY 


Rev.  Theodork  W.  Wfli.s,  Pastor  of  the  Church. 


MARLBOROUGH  : 

Published  by  Request,  under  the  Direction  of  the  Consistory. 

1877. 


PRINTED  BY 

JAMES  S.  YARD, 

FREEHOLD,  N.  J 


Reformed  Church  of  the  Navasink. 


Now   Known   as  the   Brick   Church,    Marlborough, 
Monmouth   County,    New  Jersey. 


1699-1877. 


Consistory  in  1709. 
Kev.  JOSEPH  MORGAN,  President. 
Elders,  Deacons, 

Peter  Van  Deventer,  Garret  Schenck, 

John  Wyckoff.  Jacob  Van  Doorn. 

Consistory  in  1827. 
Rev.  SAMUEL  A.  VAN  VIMNKEN,  D.  D.,  President. 

Elders,  •        Beacons, 

Garrett  Wyckoff,  Joseph  Van  Cleef. 

Daniel  S.  Schenck,  Denise  Schenck, 

Aaron  Smock.  Garret  G.  Conover. 

Consistory  in  1877. 
Rev.  THEODORE  W.  YfELLS,' President. 
WILLIAM  SPADER,  Treasurer, 
LAFAYETTE  G.  SCHENCK,  Clerk. 
Elders,  Deacons, 

Uriah  Smock,  Addison  W.  Hobert, 

Peter  L.  Cortelyou,  Selah  B.  Wells, 

James  E.  Wells,  John  L  Rue, 

Milton  Smock.  John  H.  Van  Mater. 


Reformed  Church  of  the  Navasink. 


Now    Known   as  the   Brick   Church,    Marlborough, 
Monmouth   County,    New  Jersey. 


1699-1877. 


PASTORAL  RECORD. 

1699  to  1709. — Suiiplied   hy   tlic    Mini.stor.^^  of  Loii.ii' 
Island  : 

WjJ, 111:1, MUS    LUPARUl  S, 
ViNCKXTlUS  AnToNIDKS, 

Behxahi>u.><  Freeman. 
1709  to  17ol. — Ju.sEPH  Morgan. 
1731  to  17'-]5. — Gerardus  IIaeohoort. 
1730  to  1704. — Reymiard  FCrickzon. 
1704  to  1827. — Benjamin  Du  Boi.s. 
1818  to  1834.— Samuel  A.  Van  Vuankkn. 
1835  to  1838. — Iames  Otterson. 
1839  to  18.51. — Aaron  A.  Marcelh  s. 
I8r)l  to  1808. — Raeph  Wii-LI.<. 
1868  to  1873. — George  Swain. 
1873  — TiiKoDoRK  \V.  Wki.i.s. 


Semi-Centennial  Celebration 

OF   THE 

Dedication   of  the   Brick  Church,    Marlborough, 
Monmouth   County,    New  Jersey. 


PRELIMINARY  PROCEEDINGS. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Great  Consistory  of  the  church, 
July  16th,  1877,  wliich  was  well  attended,  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  that  the  Semi-Centennial  of  the  church's 
dedication  he  properly  celebrated  on  the  5th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1877. 

That  day  was  chosen  because  the  9th  of  September, 
the  true  anniversary  of  the  event,  was  the  Sabbath  day  and 
the  consistory  did  not  wish  to  interfere  with  the  accustom- 
ed worship  of  the  Lord's  day. 

The  Pastor  was  requested  to  prepare  an  Historical 
discourse,  and  the  following-  committees  were   appointed  : 

On  the  Order  of  Exercises. — Rev.  Theodore  W. 
Wells,  Mr.  William  Spader,  and  Mr.  Lafayette  Schenck. 

On  Entertainment.— Mr.  &  Mrs.  John  Baird,  Mr.  & 
Mrs.  Uriah  Smock,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Daniel  P.  Conover,  Mr.  & 
Mrs.  William  Carson,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  P.  Conover  Vanderveer. 

On  Supplies.— Mr.  &  Mrs.  Asher  Holmes,  Mr.  &  Mrs. 
L.  G.  Schenck,  Mr.  &  xMrs.  John  V.  N.  Willis,  Mr.  &  Mrs. 
Charles  Millspaugh. 

On  Tent  and  Seats.— Messrs.  Vanderbilt  Whitlock, 
Peter  C.  Cortolyou,  Gideon  McDowell,  James  H.  Baird. 

On  Decoration. — Miss  Alethia  Cooke,  Mrs.  John 
Herbert,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  James  R.    Cruikshank,   Mr.   &  Mrs. 


6 

Daniel  J'.  X'an  l>orii,  Misr^es  Aiuiie  Smock',  Lil)bie  Snioc-k, 
Aiinio  lioice,  Xelio  Herbert,  Kate  Herbert,  Jane  A. 
►Scheiick,  (-arrie  Laird,  Aniiir  \'aii(lerveer,  Mai'v  L  AVliit- 
lock.  Messrs.  John  Cooke,  Dn  Bois  Smock,  Aaron 
Smock,  Scbenck  Herbert,  .lames  Owens,  Jobn  D.  Cono- 
ver,  (Miarles  E.  Conover,  David  A.  Baird  and  Kieliard 
Herbert. 

Tbe  Deacons  of  the  (•biir<"b  were  apjiointed  to  act  as 
tishers. 

Tiie  tbllowinL>-  notice  was  inseitid  in  tin'  local  pa- 
pers : 

.sK.MF-ChlNTKNNIAl-. 

Tlie  Congregation  of  the  Brick  cir.ircii,  Marf^x.roiigli.  will  celelirute 
the  oOtli  anniverfsary  of  the  church's  organization,  on  Wednesilay,  Sep- 
tember 5th,  1877 — (D.  V.)  The  exercises  will  l)e  liold  in  the  church,  and 
will  begin  at  10^  o'clock,  A.  M.  The  services  will  open  with  the  singing 
of  the  anthem  sung  50  years  ago  at  the  dedication  of  the  church.  The 
pastor  of  the  cliurch  will  deliver  an  Historical  Disconr.^e  in  the  morning, 
and  in  the  afternoon  sliort  addresses  will  be  delivered  by  the  pastors  of  the 
cluirches  formerly  associated  with,  or  springing  from,  the  old  mother 
church.  A  collation  will  he  provided  for  all  who  may  be  present,  and  ;in 
invitation  to  old  ftiends  and  acqaaintaiice.s  is  cordially  extendeii. 

Thko.  W.  Wkij.s,   Pasior. 

The  Freehold  and  New  York  Railway  advertised  spe- 
cial trains  from  Matawan  and  Freehold,  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  those  wishins^  to  attend  the  services. 


The  Celebration. 


The  day  was  all  that  the  most  ardent  lover  of  nature 
could  desire — one  of  the  brightest  jewels  of  the  year — 
making  joyous  witb  its  genial  influence  every  heart. 

The  people  commenced  assembling  at  an  early  hour, 
filling  the  ample  grounds  about  the  church,  and  reading 
with  interest  the  inscriptions  upon  the  many  old  tomb 
stones  in  the  cemetery. 

The  church  was  richly  and  handsomely  adorned  with 
flowers,  evergreens,  and  mottoes  bearing  appropriate  in- 
scriptions. 

The  decorations  were  descril>ed  in  one  of  the  county 
papers*  as  follows  : 

In  the  vestibule  was  tlie  hospitable  motto,  "  Welcome."  On  the  front 
of  the  gallery,  which  runs  around  three  sitles  of  the  church,  were  inscribed, 
in  letters  of  evergreen,  tiie  names  of  the  nine  pastors  formerly  connected 
with  the  church,  namely  :  Moroan,  Haechoort,  Ehii'kzon,  DuBois,  Van 
Vranken,  Otterson,  Marcelmis,  W[i,lis,  Swain".  As  the  present  pastor, 
Mr.  Wells,  occupied  the  pulpit,  which  is  on  the  south  side  of  the  building, 
he  thus  completed  the  circle  of  pastors.  On  tiiq  rear  of  the  wall  in  the 
gallery,  back  of  the  choir,  was  tiie  inscription  :  "  Prnise  ye  the  liord." — 
Over  the  entrance  door  to  the  left  of  the  pulpit,  was  the  date  of  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church,  1699;  while  over  the  other  entrance,  to  tne 
right,  was  the  date  1877.  The  pillars  back  of  the  pulpit  and  those  sup- 
porting the  gallery,  the  windows,  and  the  gallery  front,  were  adorned  with 
heavy  cords  of  evergreens.  The  adornment  of  the  pulpit  was,  however, 
the  most  tasteful  and  attractive  feature  of  the  decorations.  In  front  of  it 
was  a  table  from  the  centre  of  which  rose  a  stand  of  rare  and  exquisite 
flowers.  Back  of  this,  on  the  front  of  the  pulpit,  was  a  beautiful  lute  of 
evergreens.  To  the  right  and  left  of  this  were  magnificent  boquets.  Im- 
mediately in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit  was  a  large  motto  in  the  shape  of  a 
shield,  the  inscription  on  which  was  "  God  is  our  Strength."  Above  this 
were  the  words,  "The  Lord  our  God  he  with  us  as  He  was  with  our  Fath- 
ers ;  "  and  still  above  this  was  a  dove  with  spread  wings,  made  of  white 
flowers. 

*  The  Monmouth  Democrat. 


8 

The  exercises  coinmeiiced  promptl}-  at  10.30,  A.  M., 
with  the  singing  of  an  anthem  entitled  :  "  I  vvasghid  when 
thev  said  unto  me  let  ns  go  to  the  house  of  the  Lord."* 

The  music  for  tlie  occasion  was  furnished  by  the 
church  choir  and  clicnted  much  praise.  Tlie  choir  con- 
sisted of  : 

Miss  Tillie  Conover,  Organist  :  Mrs.  John  V.  K  Wil- 
lis, Soprano;  Miss  Minnie  Conover,  Alto;  Mr.  I).  Alieel 
Statesir,  Tenor;  Mr.  Lafayette  S.  Schenck,  Basso. 

The  pulpit  was  occupied  hy  the  pastor,  Kev.  Theo. 
W.  Wells,  Rev.  William  Reiley,  1).  ]).,  Rev.  Charles  tS. 
Ilageman,  D.  D.,  Rev.  (Miarlos  I).  Buck,  Rev.  James  P,. 
Wilson,  Rev.  Samuel  L.  Cox,  and  Rev.  Garret  C.  Schenck. 
After  the  singing  of  the  anthem,  an  earnest  and  very 
appropriate  prayer  was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hageman, 
of  the  Second  Reformed  Church  of  Freehold.  The  fol- 
lowing hymn,  composed  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Van 
Vranken,  i).  D.,  and  sung  at  the  dedication  of  the  church, 
Sept.  9th,  1827,  was  then  read  by  Rev.  .lames  B.  Wilson, 
and  sung  to  the  same  music  as  on  the  former  occasion — 
the  old  version  of  the  "  Portuguese  Hvmn  :  " 

Here  in  Thy  temple,  (mhI  of  jiiace  Mtid  glory. 

Lo  Thy  peoiile  wait,  the  Lord  of  life  to  meet  : 
0  come  tins  day.  Thou  iiiishty  F'riii^'e  and  .Saviour. 

'()  come,  Cor  we  winild  worship  .-it  Tliv  feel. 
Bless  all  Thy  servants  waiting  at  Tliiiie  altar  : 

("lothe  them  with  Thy  grace  to  do  Thy  work,  O  God  : 
With  zeal  and  love  to  .'^ound  the  great  .salvation, 

Our  blest  Redeemer  purchased  with  His  blood. 
Hles.s  all  Thy  people  in  Thy  conrt.s  attending, 

Thy  good  Spirit  send,  in  answer  lo  their  call.*: 
(»  then  with  joy  we'll  chant  the  loud  Hosanna. 

.\Md  lasting  be  the  echo  from  the.'?e  walls. 
Thy  kingdom  prosfjcr,  0  thou  great  .Jehovah  ; 

r.et  victory's  shout  through  all  the  nations  run. 
Till  other  sound  blown  froTu  archangel's  trumpet 

.Vnnounce  the  .second  advent  of  Thy  Son. 
Then,  farewell  temples  laid  on  earth's   foundation, 

To  loftier  Coiirta  the  ransomed  speed  their  wa_\ , 
And  Joining  .all  in  one  immense  assembly, 

The  arch  of  Heaven  shall  echo  with  tiieir  l.iy. 

*   See  ,\p|iendi\  II. 


9 

At  tlie  conclusioa  of  the  siuging  the  Rev.  Samuel  L. 
Cox,  of  the  Baptist  Church,  Marlborough,  read  the  first 
eight  v'erses  of  the  44th  Psalm,  and  the  latter  part  of  the 
46th  Psalm,  commencing  with  the  eighth  verse.  After 
the  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  the  Rev.  Charles  D.  Buck 
read  the  following  hjmn,  written  for  the  occasion  by  Miss 
Aletliia  Cooke,  which  the  choir  sung  to  the  familiar  tune 
entitled  ••  Missionary  Hymn  :  '" 

Thou  God  who  led  our  fathers  ; 

Tbou  God  Jehovah,  Lord  I 
Hear  now  our  solemn  praises, 

We  raise  with  one  accord. 
For  blessings  without  number 

Through  all  the  changing  days; 
For  ev'ry  Eben-ezer, 

We  shout  aloud  thy  praise. 

Be  thou  our  shield  and  Saviour, 

While  wrestling  with  our  foes  ; 
Grant  us  Thy  love  and  favor, 

While  passing  through  life's  woes. 
Rejoicing  in  Thy  pleasure 

Through  all  our  dev'ous  ways. 
We'll  sing  our  Eben-ezer, 

And  shout  aloud  Thy  praise. 

When  we  lay  down  our  armor, 

And  cease  our  conflicts  here, 
Through  Christ  our  loving  Sa,viour, 

We'll  banish  every  fear  ; 
Within  the  walls  of  jasper. 

With  saints  in  glory  raise 
Our  songs  of  Eben-ezer, 

And  shout  aloud  Thy  praise — 

Hallelujah  I  hallelujah!  amen  I 

The  discourse  contained  in  the  following  pages  was 
tlien  delivered  by  the  Pastor. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  discourse  the  Hon.  George 
C.  Beekman,  of  Freehold,  offered  with  appropriate  re- 
marks, the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved.  That  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  Monmouth  County,  here 
present,  be  tendered  to  the  Rey.  Theodore  W.  Wells,  Pastor  of  the  Brick 
church,  for  the  able,  instructive  and  interesting  address  he  has  prepared, 
and  that  a  copy  of  the  same  be  requested  for  publication." 


10 

The  resolution  having  been  carried  ananiuiously, 
the  Doxology,  "  Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow," 
was  sung  by  the  vast  assembly,  and  then  the  congregation 
was  dismissed  by  the  Rev.  6.  C.  Schenck,  who  blessed 
them  in  the  name  of  the  Triune  Jehovah. 

A  plentiful  collation  had  been  prepared  by  the  ladies 
.)f  the  church,  to  which  :ill  pn'sciit  were  invited.  It  is 
comput«'d  that  not  less  than  one  thousand  persons  partook 
of  refreshments.  At  three  o'clock  the  church  was  again 
filled  and  the  exercises  commenced  by  the  singing  of  The 
Gloria  from  .Mozart's  Twelfth  Mass. 

The  following  imi>romptu  addresses  were  then  deliv- 
ered, for  the  sketch  of  which  we  are  indebted  to  the  re- 
ports in  the  Monmouth  Democrat  and  the  Monmouth  Inquirer  : 

The  Ilev.  Dr.  Reiley,  Pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  of  Holmdel,  said 
that  such  a  large  concourse  of  people  to  show  their  .-espect  and  regard 
for  the  sanctu;iry  of  the  Lord  was  a  very  interesting  fnct.  He  remarked 
that  he  was  present  because  he  served  the  church  which  was  regarded  as 
a  child  of  this  Old  Mother  Church.  ••  My  church  "  he  said,  "  is  rather  the 
sister  of  this  one."  They  had  a  community  of  interests  for  many  years,  and 
are  80  nearly  of  an  age,  that  some  are  perplexed  to  know  which  is  the 
mother.  He  stated  that  it  was  fifty-two  years  since  they  h.-id  separated,  and 
that  since  that  time  there  had  been  increase  in  the  daughter's  household 
nearly  equal  to  thai  enjoyed  by  the  old  Mother  church. 

Mr.  Wells  said  he  had  received  leUers  of  regret  from  the  Rev.  Ralph 
Willis,  and  the  Rev.  George  Swain,  the  only  living  e.\-pastors  of  the 
church  ;  the  former  declaring  his  inability  to  be  present  on  account  of 
public  duties,  as  Superintendent  of  Schools,  and  the  latter  declaring  the 
overturning  of  his  plans,  much  to  his  sorrow,  by  the  death  of  one  of  the 
oldest  members  of  his  church,  whose  funeral  was  at  12,  M.  He  also  said  : 
he  had  received  a  letter  of  congratulation  from  the  Rev.  James  Bolton, 
pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  at  Colts  Neck — the  youngest  child  of  the 
Old  Brick  ctsurch. 

The  .566th  hymn,  '•  Hymns  of  the  (-hurch,"  was  then  sung,  alter  which 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hageman,  of  Freehold,  presented  the  salutations  of  the  sec- 
ond daughter  of  the  Brick  church.  He  thought  the  second  daughter  was 
the  fairest,  and  had  thought  so  ever  since  he  courted  his  wife.  He  said 
that  the  great  power  of  the  old  Mother  church  e.visted  in  the  fact  that  she 
had  faithfully  maintained  the  holy  ordinances  of  the  gospel,  and  had  sought 
the  extension  of  th^  Redeemer's  Kingdom  This  church  is  stronger  to-day 
by  diniision — by  the  organization  of  otiier  churches  from  her  members. 

The  Rev.  Garret  C.  Schenck,  one  of  the  sons  of  the  church,  and  for 
many  years  a  successful  pastor,  said  that  it  was  truly  interesting  to   watch 


11 

the  progress  and  advancement  of  the  Christiiiii  church,  in  fulfillment  of 
the  prophecies  of  the  word  of  God.  He  ti)en  referred  to  our  ancestors 
seeking  a  home  in  the  wildernesses  of  America,  and  asserting  their  faith  in 
God's  truthfulness,  by  bearing  witii  them  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  erect- 
ing churches  where  they  built  their  homes.  Mr.  Schenck  then  exhibited 
two  Bibles  printed  in  the  Dutch  language,  which,  he  said,  were  the  pulpit 
Bibles  of  this  old  church  ;  one  of  them  used  in  the  church  which  stood 
where  we  were  assembled,  and  the  other  in  the  church  at  Middletown. — 
Mr.  Schenck  presented  the  books  to  tlie  Consistories  of  the  churches  in 
which  they  had  been  used.*  He  also  exhibited  an  old  sermon  printed  in 
Dutch,  published  in  1758,  written  by  Daniel  Hendrickson,  many  years 
an  elder  in  this  church,  and  commended  in  strong  terms  by  his  pastor,  the 
Kev.  Reynhard  Erickzon. 

A  part  of  the  575th  hymn,  "Hymns  of  the  Church,"  was  tiien  sung, 
after  which.  Rev.  James  B.  Wilson,  of  Long  Branch,  said  :  "I  bear  to  vou 
the  congratulations  of  the  fifth  daughter,  who  is  not  far  from  thirty  years 
of  age.  The  immigration  of  some  families  of  the  Brick  church  con- 
gregation to  Long  Branch  was  the  cause  and  origin  of  the  Reformed 
church  there."  He  said  he  had  ministered  nventy-si.x  years  at  Long  Branch, 
and  that  the  congregation  had  been  blessed  by  the  Lord  most  abundantly. 
"This  fifth  daughter  has  two  children,  the  Sea-side  Chapel,  and  the  church 
at  Asbury  Park.  The  church  at  the  Highlands  is  also  a  foster-child, 
having  received  most  of  its  assistance  and  encouragement  from  the  Long 
Branch  congregation."  He  concluded  by  saying:  "  I  hope  the  mother  will 
remember  the  children  and  grand-children  tliat  God  has  given  her.  A 
mother's  prayers  never  go  unanswered.  In  answer  to  prayer  God  will 
pour  out  great  blessings  upon  you,  and  upon  us." 

Rev.  Charles  D.  Buck  said  :  he  did  not  pretend  to  know  anything 
about  the  churches  of  Monmouth  County,  but  that  he  had  learned  a  good 
deal  through  the  day.  •'  I  come  to  tell  you  of  a  grand-daughter  which  is 
full  grown.  I  feel  like  a  grand-child  coming  tb  see  its  grand-mother  for 
the  first  time,  and  I  am  pleased  to  find  that  she  is  such  a  beautiful,  vener- 
able old  lady,  fresh  and  youthful  as  ever.  It  was  a  happy  thought  in 
Brother  Wells,  to  bring  together  the  children,  and  recite  the  history  of  the 
past,  so  full  of  interest,  before  them.  .Memory  never  dies.  In  eternity  we 
will  remember  the  scenes  of  to-day,  and  the  thoughts  thus  awakened, 
will  add  a  stanza  to  our  anthem  of  praise." 

The  choir  and  congregation  then  united  in  singing  "Lord,  dismiss  us 
with  Thy  Blessing,"  and  the  Benediction  was  pronounced  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Reiley. 

*  See  Appendix  G. 


THE  DAYS  OF  OLD, 

A  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Reformed  Church  of  the  Navasink, 

Now   Known   as  the   Brick  Church,    Marlborough, 
Monmouth   County,    New  Jersey. 


DELIVERED    AT    THE     CELEBRATION    OF     THE    SEMI-CENTENNIAL 

ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE  BRICK 

CHURCH,  SEPTEMBER  5,  1877. 

By  Rev.  THEODORE  W.  WELLS, 

PASTOR  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


Historical  Address.^ 


"  I  remember  the  days  of  old,"  is  the  language  of 
King  David  in  the  143d  Psalm.  His  words  form  a  suita- 
ble and  appropriate  motto  for  my  present  discourse.  They 
also  furnish  a  royal  precedent  for  considering  the  days  of 
old,  and  teach  us  that  in  so  doing  we  are  all  following  the 
footsteps  of  the  honored  and  good. 

The  past  is  the  mold,  the  fashioner  of  the  present.  Its 
manners  and  customs,  its  thoughts  and  religious  life,  the 
triumphs  of  its  genius  and  the  achievments  of  its  piety, 
have  made  us  what  we  are.  The  past  is  a  store-house  of 
instruction  for  the  present.  In  it  we  discover  how  man- 
kind have  struggled  with  the  mysteries  surrounding  them, 
and  from  it  we  learn  how  they  triumphed  over  difficulties 
and  achieved  noble  things.  It  also  contains  a  record  of  the 
dead,  of  those  who  were  wrecked  by  Life's  tempests  and 
storms,  and  of  those  who  through  faith  out-weathered  the 
gale  and  entered  with  joy  the  Haven  of  Rest. 

The  past  is  a  great  benefactor  of  the  present.  It  gives 
us  a  legacy,  better  and  more  enduring  than  land  titles  or 
treasures,  of  far  reaching  influences  which  aftect  the  dailv 
conduct  and  determine  to  a  great  extent  our  success  or  de- 
feat in  the  great  battle  of  life.     It  gives  us  precious  mem- 

*  In  the  preparation  of  this  liistory  I  have  appropriated  facts  where- 
ever  found,  and  hereby  acicnowledge  my  indebtedness  to  "  Corwin's  Manual 
of  the  Reformed  Church,"  to  several  manuscripts  of  the  late  Rev.  Aaroa 
A.  Marcellus,  deceased,  and  to  the  friendly  co-operation  and  aid  of  the 
Rev.  G.irret  C.  Schenck.  To  give  my  authority  for  every  statement  made 
would  encumber  the  pages  with  foot  notes,  and  prove  without  interest  to 
the  reader.  "p    \Y    W. 


16 

orios,  whieli  cause  us  to  view  with  reverential  feelings  the 
objects  about  wliich  tbey  may  be  entwined  ;  wliich  snatch 
the  soul  away  tVoni  the  power  of  the  present,  and  "advance 
us  in  the  dignity  of  thinking  beings." 

To  you  the  past  has  given  this  christian  clinrcii,  witli 
its  precious  nieniories,  its  hallowed  associations,  and  its 
holy  inHuences,  through  which,  as  through  a  channel  wide 
and  dee[),  there  has  ever  flowed  to  you  the  priceless  bene- 
fits of  relie-ious  instruction,  and  a  mind  made  familiar 
with  the  trutlis  of  redemption.  This  church  stands  to-day, 
a  monument  of  the  past,  per[>etuatiug  the  faith  of  your 
buried  ancestors,  and  reminding  you  that  those  whose 
names  you  bear  possessed  hearts  tilled  with  love  of  the 
Ileaveidy  Father.  Worshiping  bore,  we  are  surrounded 
with  the  memories  of  nearly  two  centuries,  and  can  we  not 
sav.  in  the  language  of  a  distinguished  New  Kngland  Poet: 

If  leaflets  from  some  hero's  tomb, 

Or  moss-wrealli  torn  from  ruins  lioary. 

Or  faded  flowers  whose  sisters  hlooiii 
On  fields  renowned  in  story  ; 

****** 

If  it  he  true  that  things  liiie  these 

To  heart  and  eye  briglit  visions  bring, 

.Shall  not  far  holier  memories 
To  these  memorials  cling? 

Which  need  no  mellowing  mist  of  tiniH 

To  hide  the  crimson  stains  of  crime  ! 

A  hundred  and  scventy-eight  years  ago  a  baud  of 
christian  worsiiipers,  desirous  of  enjoying  the  stated  min- 
istrations of  the  means  of  grace,  founded  for  themselves 
and  for  their  children,  and  for  ail  whom  the  Lord  their 
(lod  should  call,  this  christian  cliuich.  They  came  from 
a  land  ovei'shadowed  with  "  the  grandest  historical  asso- 
ciations and  the  noblest  menu)ries  of  the  past;"  from  a 
land,  which,  redeemed  from  the  sea  by  the  energy  of  its 
iidial)itants,  becanu'  the  centre  ol  commerce  and  tlu^  mis- 
tress of  the  seas,  and  dui'ing  the  era  of  the  great  reforma- 
tion was  the  fre(pient  scene  of  the  purest  patriotism,  the 
most  heroic  courage,  and   the   most   unfaltei-ing    devotion 


17 

to  the  right,  tlie  world  has  ever  witnessed.  They  came 
with  strong  faith  in  the  God  ot  Heaven.  They  bore  in  one 
hand  the  Holy  Bible,  and  with  the  other  held  aloft,  as  a 
true  exposition  of  the  truths  of  Redemption  and  a  clear 
declaration  of  christian  doctrine,  the  Heidelberg  Cate- 
chism, the  Belgic  Confession  of  Faith,  and  the  Canons  of 
the  Synod  of  Dordrecht.  They  founded  this  church,  that 
they  and  their  children  might  be  duly  instructed  in  the 
doctrines  taught  by  these  venerable  symbols,  and  cheered 
by  the  hopes  which  sucli  teaching  inspires,  they  lived  and 
labored  and  died  in  the  Lord.  They  rest  from  their  la- 
bors, and  their  works  do  follow  them. 

[  propose  to  relate  the  history  of  the  church  they  es- 
tablished— the  first  Reformed  church  of  Monmouth  Coun- 
ty— the  church  with  wliich  so  many  of  ns  are  connected, 
in  our  several  relations  as  pastor,  officers,  families,  and 
communicants. 

Our  church  records  begin  in  1709,  one  hundred  years 
after  Hendrick  Hudson  landed  at  the  Highlands  of  the 
Navasink,  the  first  European  to  set  his  foot  upon  the  soil 
of  New  Jersey,  or  to  behold  the  fertile  fields  now  known 
as  Monmouth  County,  the  garden  of  the  State. 

The  early  settlement  of  the  county  is  a  portion  of 
history  I  have  not  time  to  explore  to  any  great  extent.  It 
commenced  in  1665,  the  yeuv  following^  the  surrender  of 
the  Dutch  Provinces  in  America  to  the  British  Crown. 
The  first  settlers  were  Scotch  and  P]nglish  people  from 
other  American  Provinces,  with  a  few  from  Barbadoes 
and  England.  They  formed  the  towns  of  Shrewsbury 
and  Middletown,  which  in  1673  contained  128  white  men. 
The  township  of  Freehold  was  not  formed  until  1693. 

There  are  those  who  think  there  was  a  previous  set- 
tlement by  tlie  Dutch,  and  a  church  in  this  region,  known 
as  the  Reformed  Church  of  the  Navasink.  The  most 
diligent  research  has  failed  to  discover  any  historical  data 
in  support  of  such  a  statement.  The  church  whose  histo- 
ry I  propose  to  relate  is  styled  in  the  records  in  my  pos- 
session, the  Reformed  Church   of  Freehold  of  the  Nava- 


18 

sink.  In  1788,  in  a  record  of  u  ministerial  gathering  in 
New  York  city,  the  residence  of  the  pastor  of  this  church 
is  given  as  Neversink.  and  the  Hon.  G.  C.  Beekman  has 
in  his  possession  a  letter  bearing  date  1754,  directed 
"Roelif  Schenck,  Naversinks,  near  the  Freehold  church." 
Mr.  Schenck  lived  within  a  rifle  shot  of  where  I  am  stand- 
ing. The  whole  county  of  Monmouth,  previous  to  168S, 
is  frequently  called,  in  the  Court  Records,  the  county  of 
Xevvasink.* 

The  earliest  reliable  information  we  have  of  a  Re- 
formed church  in  the  county,  is  that  in  1699,  the  Dutch 
families  of  Monmouth  county  were  sufficient  in  number 
to  have  stated  preaching.  This  service  was  rendered  ac- 
cording to  agreement,  by  ministers  from  Long  Island  at 
appointed  times  in  rotation.  Their  names  were  Wilhelmus 
Lupardus,  Vincentius  Antonides  and  Bernardus  Freeman. 
They  were  pastors  of  the  collegiate  churches  of  King's 
County,  Long  Island.  Of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Lupardus  nothing 
is  known.  The  Rev.  Vincentius  Antonides,  who  is  de- 
scribed as  an  amiable  christian  gentleman,  had  a  son 
named  Johannes,  who  married  Jolianna  Kowenhoven, 
and  settled  in  Middletown  about  1720.  He  was  a  deacon 
in  this  church  in  1726.  The  Rev.  Bernardus  Freeman, 
before  his  settlement  at  Flatbush,  was  a  missionary  among- 
the  Mohawk  Indians,  and  was  celebrated  in  his  day  for 
his  knowledge  of  the  Indian  language. 

These  ministers,  it  is  said,  found  their  services  here 
exceedingly  burdensome  because  of  "  the  distance  they 
were  compelled  to  travel,  and  the  danger  of  crossing  the 
great  bay  in  small  boats." 


*  Dominie  Erickzon,  when  commencing  the  record  of  Bii])tisms  admin- 
istered by  himself,  in  1736,  says :  "Baptismal  record  of  the  Reformed 
congregation  of  the  Nevezink."  The  whole  region  between  the  Ocean  and 
the  Raritan  river  was  known  as  tiie  Navasink.  So  called  because  occu- 
pied by  a  sub-tribe  of  the  Lenape  Indians,  tiie  Navasinks.  This  same  re- 
^fion  is  sometimes  called  tiie  Raritans.  Families  settling  here  are  said  to 
have  rcmove<l  to  the  "  Raritans,''  on  the  old  cliurch  records  of  Flatbush » 
Long  Island. 


19 

This  was  undoubtedly  immediately  after  the  com- 
mencement of  Dutch  settlement  in  Monmouth  County. 
The  Dutch  pioneers  seldom  delayed  efforts  for  securing 
the  benefits  of  stated  religious  services. 

The  first  intimation  we  have  of  a  Dutch   settler   is 
from  a  deed  conveying  a  small  house  and  lot  in  Middletown 
to  Deirick  Teunison,  in  1672.     For  the  next  twenty  years 
there  are  only  a  few  conveyances  of  real  estate  to  Dutch 
people,  and  the  localities  conveyed   are   too  scattered  and 
the  number  of  the  Dutch  too  small  to  justify  us  in   speak- 
ing of  a   Dutch   settlement  in   Monmouth    County,  until 
about  1695.     Bearing  this    date   we  find   a  deed   of  con- 
veyance executed    to    one    Garrett   Von    Schenck.     Two 
years  later  the  names  of  Samuel  Hoffmire  and  Garret  Von 
Schenck  are  among  the  list  of  Grand  Jurors.     Soon  after 
this  we  iind  the  names  of  Jacob  Van  Dorn,  John  Schenck, 
Johannes  Polhemus,  Cornelius  Cowenhoven,  Daniel  Hen- 
drickson,  Lawrence  Van  Kirk,  John  Wyckoft"  and  Benja- 
min   Van  Cleef.     This    brings  us    to    1707,    when    Aurie 
Booraem  and  one  Van  Brackel,  are  appointed  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  in   Freehold. 

The  majority  of  these  pei'sons  came  from  Long  Island, 
they  or  their  parents  having  located  there  when  arriving 
from  Holland.  Their  families,  and  a, few  others,  as  they 
settled  here  from  time  to  time,  made  up  the  congregation 
to  which  for  ten  years  the  Long  Island  pastors  ministered, 
when  their  labors  issued  in  the  regularly  organized  Re- 
formed church  of  Freehold  and  Middletown. 

Other  Dutch  families  intimately  connected  with  the 
history  of  our  church,  followed  soon  after.  In  the  Church 
Records  we  find  the  name  of  Smock  in  1710,  Van  Mater 
and  Sutphen  1713,  Brower  1715,  Van  Der  Veer  1723.  A 
few  Scotch  and  English  families,  who  through  intermar- 
riage have  become  Dutch,  settled  here  much  earlier.  The 
name  of  Bown,  Tilton,  Holmes  and  Whitlock,  are  fonnd 
among  the  first  settlers  in  1665.  The  Bairds  made  their 
appearance    about    1680,   and  "  Janathan   Forman  "  was 


20 

inadi'  a  DiitclMiian  by  being   received   into  tiie   cliureli   in 
1713,  the  first  adult  to  be  baptised. 

The  Bairds  endeavored,  but  without  success,  to  intro- 
duce a  new  mode  of  courtship.  The  tirst  of  that  name 
was  surnamed  John,  and  tradition  declares  that  one  day 
he  met  Mary  Hall,  whom  he  afterward  married,  in  the 
woods.  As  both  were  bashful,  they  halted  at  some  dis- 
tance from  each  other,  under  a  tree.  It  was  love  at  lirst 
sight,  and  in  a  short  time,  John,  who  was  a  Quaker,  broke 
the  silence  by  saying:  "  If  thou  wilt  marry  me,  say  yea, 
if  thou  wilt  not,  say  nay,"  Mary  said  "Yea,"  and  proved  a 
noble  wife  and  mother. 

At  this  time  the  wliole  region  now  composing  the 
townships  of  Marlborough,  Manalapan,  Freehold,  Mill- 
stone, Upper  Freehold,  and  a  portion  of  Ocean  County, 
was  known  as  Freehold.  Tlie  present  townships  of  Mid- 
dletown,  Ilolmdel,  Raritan  and  Matavan  were  called  Mid- 
dletown,  while  Atlantic,  Shrewsbury  and  Ocean  town- 
ships, together  with  a  large  portion  of  Ocean  County,  was 
designated  Slirewsbur\-. 

In  Middletown  village  there  was  an  English  church, 
where  the  Protestant  F.piscopal  church  now  stands,  and, 
also,  an  old  Presbyterian  cliurch  near  Crawford  Hendrick- 
son's,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Presbyterian  Burying 
Ground.  This  was  an  old,  dilapidated  building  in  Domi- 
nie Morgan's  time,  even  then  al)andoned  and  left  to  de- 
cay. Its  neo-lected  condition  annoyed  the  Dominie,  and 
.  when  riding  by,  if  he  saw  the  door  or  a  window  open,  we 
are  told  he  would  stop,  and  dismounting  his  horse,  reve- 
rently close  the  open  door  or  window  before  proceeding 
on  his  way. 

The  Scotch  Presbyterians  had  a  meeting  house  at  tlie 
place  now  known  as  the  Old  Scotch  Burying  Ground, 
but  at  that  time  honored  with  the  name  of  Freehill.  "  The 
Baptists  of  Monmouth  County"  also  had  a  meeting  house, 
described  as  standing  "  on  tlie  west  side  of  u  little  brook 
called  John  Bray's  brook,  in  the  township  of  Middle- 
town."     There  was  a  Scotch  and  Knglish  Quaker  meeting 


21 

liouse  on  the  present  site  of  the  Topanamus  Burying 
Ground,  which  through  the  labors  of  George  Keith,  Sur- 
veyor General  of  East  Jersey,  who  led  the  Quakers  into 
the  Church  of  England,  became  the  place  of  worship  for 
the  congregation  now  known  as  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church  of  Freehold  village. 

The  Church  Records  begin  with  this  statement,  re- 
corded in  the  Low  Dutch  language  :  "In  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  1709,  on  the  19th  of  October,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Mor- 
gan, a  minister  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  was  installed 
as  pastor  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Freehold  and 
Middletown,  in  the  presence  of  Rev,  Bernardus  Freeman, 
of  King's  County." 

Then,  as  now,  it  was  the  Reformed  Church — nor 
should  it  be  overlooked,  that  it  is  spoken  of  as  the  Re- 
formed congregation  of  Freehold  and  Middletown — one 
congregation,  with  families  residing  in  the  two  townships 
of  Freehold  and  Middletown,  and  sometimes  called,  as  I 
have  already  remarked,  the  Congregation  of  the  Navasink. 

The  Consistory  was  composed  of  Peter  VanDeventer 
and  John  Wyckoff,  Elders,  and  Jacob  Van  Dorn  and  Gar- 
ret Sclienck,  Deacons. 

There  were  49  in  the  communion  of  the  church,  45 
of  whom  had  been  received  by  certi,ficate  and  4  by  con- 
fession of  faith  in  Christ. 

»  From  this  time  to  the  present,  a  period  of  168  years, 
this  congregation  has  never  been  without  the  services  of 
a  settled  pastor  for  a  whole  year  but  once.  That  was  more 
than  a  century  ago,  when,  for  15  months  in  1735  and  6, 
there  was  no  under-shepherd  for  the  flock.  This  is  a  very 
remarkable  record.  The  first  Reformed  Church  duly  or- 
ganized on  the  soil  of  ISTew  Jersey  was  the  Reformed 
Church  at  Bergen,  but  this  church  was  without  a  pastor 
until  1757. 

The  first  installed  pastor  of  a  Reformed  Church  in 
New  Jersey  was  Rev.  Guillaume  Bertholf,  who  was  in- 
stalled at  Hackensack  in  1694.     The   second  pastor  of  a 


22 

Reformed  elm rcli  installed  in  the  State    was   Kev.   Josepli 
M origan,  at  Frreliold,  in  17(>!». 

Until  182G  there  was  no  otlu-r  Reformed  church  in 
Monnionth  county.  Now  there  are  nine,  all  of  them  the 
()tis])ring  of  the  Old  Mother  Church,  over  which,  in  1709, 
t]»e  Rev.  Joseph  Morj^an  was  installed.  At  this  time  Mr. 
Moriran  was  pastor  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  church,  the 
.i^erm  of  the  well  known  Old  Tennent  church.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian  minister  and  a  Dutch  dominie  at  the  same 
time.  When  he  a[)peared  in  Oourt  to  take  the  necessary 
oaths  us  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  he  was  i)resented  by  rep- 
resentatives of  both  congregations.  These  oaths  were 
required  because  he  was  not  a  minister  of  the  churcb  of 
Kngland.  According  to  "  An  Act  of  Parliament  for  Ex- 
empting her  Majesties  Protestant  subjects  discenting  from 
the  ('hurch  of  England,  from  the  penalties  of  certain 
laws,"  every  minister  not  in  the  communion  of  the 
English  church  was  obliged  to  take  oath  that  he  would 
not  teach  the  doctrine  of  Transubstantiation,  nor  any- 
thing contrary  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  as  taught 
in  the  thirty-nine  articles  of  the  English  cliurch.  This 
was  (;alled  "  qualifying,"  and  in  this  manner  Dominie 
Morgan  "  (pialified  "  himself,  in  ])ecember,  1709,  having 
been  "presented  b}-  several  of  said  congregation,  viz  :  Ja- 
cob Laen,  Jolin  Wikof,  John  Sutfin,  William  Hendrick- 
son,  John  Essmith,  William  Wilkms  and  Auri  Mattison, 
in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  rest  of  their  brethren." 
The  first  three  of  these  persons  were  in  the  communion  of 
the  Reformed  cliurch.  the  otluM-s  reprcsentctl  the  Scotch 
Presbyterians. 

J)uring  his  whole  ministry  Dominie  Morgan  was  con- 
nected with  tlie  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  to  wiiich  h" 
was  amenable.  Tiie  circumstances  which  led  t(^  his  set- 
tlement among  the  Dutch  were  his  ability  to  preach  in 
the  liOW  Dutch  language,  and  the  willingness  of  himself 
and  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  to  give  the  Dutch  three- 
tburths  of  his   services — an  ai  lanii-cnicnt    it    would    have 


23 

been  impossible  to  make  bad  not  tbe  Dutcli   congregation 
been  tbe  most  flourisliing. 

At  tbis  time  Monmoutb  county  was  little  less  tban  a 
forest.  Here  and  tbere  was  a  clearing,  but  the  settlements 
were  widely  scattered,  tbe  streams  unbridged,  and  tbe 
roads  not  mucb  more  tban  patbs  tbrougb  tbe  wilderness. 
Horse-back  riding  for  many  years  was  a  necessity.  In 
tbe  latter  part  of  bis  ministry  Dominie  Morgan,  it  is  said, 
attracted  attention  by  riding  tbrougb  tbe  country  in  a  two 
wbeeled  cart  or  gig — probably  tbe  first  tbing  of  tbe  kind 
brougbt  into  tbe  county,  Tbat  was  more  tban  a  century 
and  a  half  ago,  but  even  to  tbis  day,  as  I  know  from  ex- 
perience, tbe  people  laugb  if  tbey  see  tbeir  minister  riding 
in  a  sulky. 

Mr.  Morgan  was  probably  of  Welsb  origin.  He  was 
born  in  1674.  Wben  23  years  of  age  be  was  ordained  in 
Connecticut  to  tbe  Gospel  ministry.  He  was  35  years  old 
wben  becoming  tbe  pastor  of  tbis  cburcb.  He  bad  previ- 
ously been  settled  over  tbe  Presbyterian  clmrcbes  of  Bed- 
ford and  East  Chester,  in  New  York,  and  afterwards  min- 
istered to  tbe  churches  of  Hopewell  and  Maidenhead,  New 
Jersey.  He  was  persecuted  in  his  ministry  on  account  of 
the  manner  of  his  ordination  and  bis  use  of  notes  in 
preaching.  He  incurred  the  ill-will  of  Dominie  Freling- 
buysen,  of  Six-Mile-Run,  the  most  influential  Dutch  minis- 
ter in  this  section  of  tbe  State,  by  baptising  tbe  children 
of  some  of  the  disaffected  members  of  his  congregation, 
who  applied  for  such  service.  Our  baptismal  register 
contains  the  record.  In  bitter  retaliation  Dominie  Fre- 
linghuysen  denounced  him  as  "  the  friend  and  advocate  of 
a  lifeless,  God-dishonoring  formality."  In  1728  various 
charges  were  brought  against  him,  such  as  practicing  As- 
trology, countenancing  promiscuous  dancing,  and  trans- 
gressing in  drink,  but  tbey  were  not  sustained.  About 
ten  years  after  this,  intemperance  was  proved  against  him 
and  be  was  suspended  from  the  ministry.  He  was  fully 
restored  in  1738.  Two  years  later,  having  beard  George 
Whitfield  preach,  he  was  so  affected  with  Whitfield's  spir- 


24 

it  tluit  lie  weiiL  forth  as  an  Evangelist,  proclaiming  the 
(Gospel  towards  the  sea  coasts  of  New  Jersey  and  otlier 
places  destitute  of  the  means  of  grace.  He  died  while  en- 
gaged in  these  missionary  lahors,  W  years  of  age,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  a  grave  unknown. 

lie  was  a  man  of  more  than  usual  ahility,  a  learned 
man  and  a  scholar.  TFe  was  the  author  of  a  number  of 
printed  sermons,  on  various  subjects,  and  published  sev- 
eral theological  treatises.  A  Latin  letter  written  by  liim  to 
Cotton  Mather,  the  most  eminent  clergyman  of  New  Eng- 
land, bearing  date  1721,  is  preserved  at  Worcester,  Mas- 
sachusets.  The  testimony  of  the  Consistory,  at  the  time'of 
his  leaving  this  congregation,  gives  liim  a  reputation  for 
piety  and  ministerial  fidelity  scarcely  equalled  by  any  of 
tlie  ministers  at  that  time  in  the  country  They  declare 
him  to  be  "a  man  of  acknowledged  ortliodoxy  and  exem- 
plary character."  Their  language  is  "  we  have  enjoyed 
the  services  of  Dominie  Morgan,  who,  accordijig  to  his 
ability,  has  faithfully  and  zealously  performed  the  duties 
of  his  charge."  Or.  Reiley  informs  me  that  he  was  told 
bv  tlie  Uev.  Dr.  Thomas  De  Witt  that  Dominie  Morgan 
learned  the  Dutch  language  out  of  pure  zeal  tor  the  Lord's 
work,  tiiat  he  might  be  able  to  preach  to  tlie  Dutch  peo- 
ple, among  wiiom  he  found  himself  placed.  His  labor 
was  not  in  vain  in  tlie  Lord. 

In  1714,  five  years  after  the  installation  of  Dominie 
Morgan,  the  land  on  which  this  building  stands,  and  the 
adjoining  farm  of  Mr.  Daniel  W  Conover,  became  the  pro- 
perty of  the  church.  It  was  first  bought  of  one  Richard 
Salter  or  Sadler,  in  1709,  for  the  sum  of  450  pounds,  by 
<Jhertie  Komain,  widow  of  Stotfoll  Komain,  ''for  the  use 
of  the  Dutch  Presbyterian  minister."  in  1714  it  was  con- 
veyed bv  Jacobus  Komain,  hei- son,  to  .lolm  Schenck  and 
Cornelius  Cowenhoven,  of  Middletown,  and  Peter  Tyson, 
of  Kreehold,  in  trust  for  the  use  of  the  congregation.  Be- 
cause of  the  uncertain  tenui'c  of  lands  and  the  conflict  of 
titles  at  that  early  day,  the  same  property,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  30  acres,  was  deeded,   in    174.S,  to   Cornelius  Van 


25 

Der  Veer,  of  MicKlletown,  and  John  Hans,  of  Freehold,  "  in 
trust  for  the  Low  Dutch  congregation  of  Protestants,  as 
the  same  was  estahlished  by  the  Synod  of  Dort,  in  the 
years  1618  and  19,  to  be  equally  divided  between  the  two 
congregations  of  Freehokl  and  Middletown,  both  in  quan- 
tity and  quality."  This  deed  was  executed  by  Thomas 
Kinnan.  The  property  was  occupied  by  Dominie  Mor- 
gan as  a  parsonage.  It  is  described  as  containing  "  100 
acres  of  good  arable  land,  as  good  as  any  in  Freehold,  on 
which  a  family  may  subsist  comfortably."  Dominie  Mor- 
gan, it  is  said,  realized  at  least  30  pounds  a  year  from  his 
farming  operations  "  besides  his  own  bread."  Its  loca- 
tion is  designated  "five  quarters  of  an  hours  distance 
from  the  waters  edge,  and  the  half  of  a  quarter  of  an  hours 
distance  from  the  church." 

The  question  now  arises,  where  urns  the  church,  the 
first  lieformed  church  of  Monmouth  county,  located? 
Two  places  are  referred  to  as  the  probable  site.  The  Rev. 
Aaron  A.  Marcel  1  us,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  much 
valuable  information,  says,  in  a  book  of  historical  notes, 
that  the  old  church  stood  either  on  the  brow  of  the  hill, 
on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  turnpike,  just  as  you  cross 
the  bridge  near  the  mill  in  going  from  the  church  to 
Marlborough,  or  on  Hendrickson's  Ilil'l,  the  large  knoll 
on  which  a  solitary  apple  tree  is  now  growing,  almost  di- 
rectly in  the  rear  of  the  present  parsonage  at  Marlbo- 
rough. Between  these  two  places  it  is  not  difficult  to  decide. 
There  is  in  the  former  place  an  old  grave  yard,  whose  ex- 
istence has  probably  led  to  the  conclusion  that  a  church 
once  stood  there  ;  but  in  tracing  the  history  of  this  bury- 
ing ground,  I  find  it  was  formerly  known  and  called 
Hance-s  burying  ground,  and  was  a  portion  of  the  estate 
of  John  Ilance,*  one  of  the  original  proprietors  under  the 
Nicholls   patent.     This    proves  conclusively  that   the   old 

*  Some  persons  think  tl.is  n;ime  should  be  spelled  Hans,  pronounced 
Honce.  If  so,  the  property  in  question  did  not  belong  to  the  John  Hance 
mentioned,  but  to  a  Dutch  family  whose  name  I  find  on  the  baptismal 
register  in  1735,  Johannes  Hanse  and  Lena.  Willemse,  his  wife. 


26 

eliureli  did  not  stand  there.  Burying  grounds  invariably 
take  the  nanio  of  the  church  to  which  they  belong.  The 
tradition  which  fixes  the  site  of  the  old  church  on  Hen- 
drickson's  Ilill,  is  probably  correct. 

In  tracing  back  the  title  to  the  property  in  question, 
I  find  that  more  than  a  century  ago,  a  quarter  of  an  acre 
of  land,  which  takes  in  ITendrickson's  Hill,  was  deeded 
several  times  to  difierent  parties,  until  at  length  it  became 
the  property  of  Mr.  John  II.  Smock,  who  owned  the  ad- 
joining land.  When  we  remember  that  in  those  days  set- 
tlers, instead  of  buying  just  land  enough  to  build  on, 
sought  large  tracts  of  land — that  the  division  of  farms  has 
always  been  obnoxious  to  the  taste  of  the  Dutch  yeomanry, 
and  that  the  sale  of  small  parcels  of  land  is  of  compara- 
tivel}'  recent  origin — it  seems  almost  certain  that  this  quar- 
ter of  an  acre  was  set  oflt'and  fenced  about  for  some  spe- 
cial purpose,  a  school  house  or  a  church.  Among  the 
Dutch  the  same  building  frequently  served  both  purposes 
— was  called  a  "  Gabat  House,"  or  prayer  bouse — and  was 
used  for  religious  worship  on  Sunday,  and  as  a  school 
house  througli  the  week.  It  may  be  the  first  church  par- 
took of  this  character.  The  building  which  formerly 
stood  on  Hendrickson's  Hill,  and  was  taken  down  more 
than  50  years  ago,  was  just  such  a  building  as  a  pioneer 
people  would  be  likely  to  erect  as  a  house  of  worship.  It 
was  about  twenty  feet  square,  with  a  steep  gable  roof. 
The  sides  were  shingled.  The  door  was  in  the  middle  of 
one  of  the  sides,  and  was  quite  large.  There  was  a  win- 
dow on  each  side  of  the  door.  There  were  no  partitions 
within,  but  one  room  occui)ied  the  whole  space.  Such  a 
building  would  not  have  l)een  erected  for  dwelling  pur- 
poses. It  was  used  as  a  dwelling  in  later  years,  but  only 
after  additions  were  built  and  alterations  made.  It  was  a 
very  old  huilding  when  taken  down.  It  is  also  well 
known  that  50  years  ago,  when  the  congregation  was  di- 
vided in  opinion  and  sentiment  concerning  the  location  of 
the  liriek  church,  some  wished  to  ha\e  it  [ilaeed  on 
Jlendrickson's    Hill.        As    at    that    time   there   was    no 


village  at  Marlborough,  the  only  apparent  reason  for  such 
a  desire  is  the  fact,  then  better  known  than  at  present, 
that  the  first  church  stood  there.  So  confident  am  I  that 
this  is  the  fact,  I  think  the  property  should  be  purchased 
and  a  suitable  monument  erected  thereon  to  the  memory 
of  the  founders  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Monmouth 
county. 

At  this  time,  1709,  there  was  no  house  of  worship 
belonging  to  the  Reformed  Church  at  Middletown.  The 
deed  for  the  Middletown  church  property  was  executed 
in  1723.  This  was  after  the  erection  of  the  church.  In 
describing  the  property,  tlie  deed  locates  the  place  of 
beginning  a  certain  number  of  chains  "  southeast  of  the 
Meeting  House."  The  date  of  the  erection  of  the  cliurch 
is  unknown.  It  was  probably  commenced  as  early  as 
1721,  as  at  that  time  I  find  a  permanent  increase  in  the 
number  of  Elders  and  Deacons  composing  the  Consistory. 
This  church  was  located  about  half  a  mile  beyond  the 
present  Holmdel  parsonage,  on  the  road  leading  to  Mid- 
dletown village,  near  an  old  burying  ground.  We  know 
nothing  in  relation  to  its  former  size.  From  some  old 
papers  in  possession  of  Dr.  Reiley,  we  are  led  to  suppose 
that  it  must  have  been  built  in  squares,  without  pews. 
There  seems  to  have  been  eleven  of  these  squares,  besides 
benches.  There  are  still  extant  curious  lists  of  these 
squares  and  their  occupants,  which  show  that  the  present 
congregation  is  to  a  great  extent  descended  from  those 
who  reared  the  old  building.  It  was  pulled  down  or  de- 
stroyed in  17ti4.  The  property  on  which  it  stood  was 
conveyed  to  Daniel  Hendrickson  and  Johannes  Polhemus, 
by  Andrew  Johnson,  of  Middletown,  in  consideration  of 
the  sum  of  three  pounds  "  for  the  sole  use,  benefit  and 
behoof  of  the  people  belonging  to  the  religious  society 
known  as  the  Dutch  Presbyterians."  Previous  to  the 
erection  of  the  Middletown  church  the  only  Reformed 
church  building  in  Monmouth  county  was  the  one  located 
on  Ilendrickson's  Hill,  in  the  present  township  of  Marl- 
borough, then  forming  a  part  of  the  township  of  Freehold. 


28 

This  is  the  reason  why  the  congregation  is  always  called, 
in  the  early  church  records,  the  congregation  of"  Freehold 
and  Middletown."  Dominie  Morgan's  ministry  lasted  22 
years.  lie  received  100  persons  into  the  communion  of 
the  .church,  the  first  of  whom,  Jan  Romain,  Benjamin 
Keener,  Derrick  Barkalow  and  Janake,  his  wife,  were 
received  the  13th  of  May,  1711.  He  baptized  582  infants, 
the  first  of  whom  was  Abraham,  son  of  Jacob  Van  Dorn, 
October  20,  1700.  In  1721  a  revival  was  enjoyed,  when 
12  persons  united  with  the  church  at  one  time.  He 
ipreached  his  fiu-ewell  sermon  August  2,  1731. 

The  Kev.  Gerardus  llaeghoort,  a  licentiate  of  the 
Classis  of  Amsterdam,  Holland,  succeeded  Mr.  Morgan. 
He  came  in  answer  to  a  call  sent  by  the  Consistory  to  the 
above  mentioned  Classis,  with  the  request  that  they  would 
send  them  a  suitable  minister.  Accompanying  this  call 
there  is  an  interesting  description  of  such  a  minister  as 
the  Consistory  suppose  would  be  acceptable  to  their  peo- 
ple. He  was  to  be  a  person  of  competent  abilities,  not 
more  than  35  years  of  age,  whether  married  or  unmarried 
it  mattered  not.  He  was  to  be  sound  in  the  laith  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  well  educated,  exemplary  and  prudent. 

The  call  also  contained  the  following  stipulations. 
The  pastor  is  to  preach  in  two  places.  Freehold  and  Mid- 
dletown, on  alternate  Sabbaths,  the  two  meeting  houses 
being  "  about  an  hour  and  a  half's  travel  apart."  He  is 
to  observe  Xow  Year's  day.  Paas.  I'inxter,  Ascension 
un<l  Chi'istmas  days,  ''according  to  the  custom  of  a  nia- 
joritv  of  the  churches  in  this  einintry.''  The  Lord's  Sup- 
per is  to  be  administered  (juarterly  and  alternately  in 
cither  church,  the  preparatory  service  having  been  held 
on  the  preceeding  Thursday. 

For  such  services  the  Consistorj'  promise  him  the 
(Mitire  use  of  the  parsonage  and  farm  in  Freehold,  "  on 
which  in  a  short  time  the  church  will  be  placed,  not  far 
from  the  minister's  house."  They  promise  him  annually 
70  ponndu  good  currant  nuMiey,  in  exact  half  yearly  pay- 
ments— a    custom  still    in   vogue.      'I'hey  also  promise  to 


29 

repair  the  parsonage  according  to  the  Dominie's  wishes, 
after  his  arrival,  and  likewise  to  furnish  him  with  a  good 
riding  horse — a  custom  now  obsolete.  The  congregation  is 
described  as  "  live-quarters  of  an  hour's  travel  in  breadth, 
in  the  middle,  and  full  three  Dutch  "  or  twelve  English 
"  miles  in  length."    And  the  consistory  assure  the  Olassis 
that  if  the  minister  they  send  is  not  accustomed  to  farming 
"  he  could  let  the  farm  for  two-thirds  of  its  yield,  or  hire  a 
farmer  for  15  pounds,  or  by  the  assistance  and  instruction 
of  friends  he  would  be  able  in  a  few  years  to  manage  the 
farm."    We  know  not  which  method  the  Dominie  pursued. 
This  call  was  signed  by   Jan   Ivowenhoven,   Garret 
Schenck,  Elbert  Williamse  and    Cornelius  WyckofF,  El- 
ders, and  Dirk  Barkalow,  Ilendrick  Kip,  Jan  VanMater, 
and   William   Covenhoven,  Deacons.     It  was  moderated 
and  attested  by  the  Rev.  Gaultherus  DuBois,   who  seems 
to  have  been  very  much  in  the   esteem  and   confidence  of 
the  people.     He  was  pastor  of  the  Collegiate  Eeformed 
church  of  New  York  city.     "  He  was  more  like  a  Bishop,"     ' 
says  Dr.  DeWitt,  "  among  the  Dutch   churches,   than  the 
pastor  of  a  single  organization." 

Mr.    Haeghoort  having   accepted  this   call,   was  sol- 
emnly ordained  by  the  laying  on  of  hands,  and   installed  q 
pastor  of  the  church  of  Freehold  and  J^liddletown,  by  the     , 
Classis  of  Amsterdam,  Holland.     On  the  9th  of  August, 
17.31,  he  was  introduced  to  his  charge  by  the  Hew  Gaul- 
therus DuBois,  who  preached  a  sermon   on  the   occasion. 
Mr.  Haeghoort  delivered  his  inaugui-al   sermon  in    tlie  af- 
ternoon of  the  same  day,  taking  for  liis  text,  Eom.  1 :  15  ; 
"  As  much  as  in  me  is  1  am  ready  to  preach  the  gospel  to 
you."     He  seems  to  have  been  a  man   of  great  respecta- 
bility as  a  preacher,  and  to  have  enjoyed  in  a  good  degree 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  people.     His  wife's  name 
was  Catherine  de  Loij,  who  came  with  him  from  Holland. 
Four  years  after  his  arrival,  he  resigned  his  call  to  become 
pastor   of  the  Reformed  church  at  Second    River,  'now 
Belleville,  Essex  county,  N.  J.     There  is  on   our  rec-ords 
a  minute  signed  by  the  Consistory,  expressing  their  heart- 


30 

felt  gorrow  under  the  dispensation  of  Providence,  by  wLicli 
they  were  so  soon  deprived  of  their  pastor's  faithful  ser- 
vices, and  their  wishes  that  (lod  would  bless  his  labors  in 
the  future  no  less  than  in  the  past,  and  "  that  he  might 
lind  himself  no  less  beloved,  to  the  honor  of  God's  great 
name  and  to  his  own  satisfaction."  The  last  clause  gen- 
tly intimates  that  the  Consistory  thought  him  a  little  too 
ambitious. 

For  15  years  Mr.  Haeghoort's  relations  to  the  church 
at  Second  River  were  delightful  and  pleasant.  Dissatis- 
fi\ction  then  took  the  place  of  harmony  and  love.  The 
church  doors  were  closed  against  him,  and  he  preached 
to  a  few  friends  from  the  steps  of  the  church.  His  salary 
was  withheld,  and  for  so  long  a  time  that  the  possession 
of  some  property  brought  with  him  from  Holland,  alone 
saved  him  from  needing  the  very  necessaries  of  life.  A 
thorough  Dutchman,  he  maintained  hisground,  triumphed 
over  his  enemies,  and  continued  the  pastor  of  the  church 
until  in  1776,  when  he  died,  and  was  buried  within  the 
walls  of  the  church,  immediately  in  front  of  the  pulpit; 
and  there  his  remains  are  now,  awaiting  the  coming  of  the 
Lord  and  the  general  resurrection. 

During  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Haeghoort's  ministry, 
and  previous  to  September,  1782,  the  congregation  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  on  the  site  we 
now  occupy.  They  were  so  evenly  divided  in  sentiment 
and  desire  that  at  a  meeting  called  for  deciding  the  loca- 
tion of  the  church,  they  agreed  that  the  church  should 
stand  on  the  site  to  which  the  first  load  of  stone  for  build- 
ing purposes,  was  carted.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon 
when  the  meeting  adjourned,  but  Mr.  Roeleff  Schenck, 
more  frequently  called  Black  lloelcff,  immediately  went 
home,  hitched  up  his  team,  gathered  the  stones  and  carted 
them  to  the  lot  on  which  this  building  stands.  That  de- 
cided the  matter. 

This  Roeleff  Schenck  was  a  large,  muscular,  and  very 
strong  man.  According  to  tradition,  a  professional  prize 
fighter,  having  heard  of  his  strength,  was  desirous  of  test- 


31 

ing  his  physical  endurance.  For  this  purpose  he  came  to 
see  him.  Roeleff  was  returning  from  the  fields  with  his 
plow  upon  his  shoulder,  when  he  met  the  stranger. 
Engaging  in  conversation  with  him  he  placed  the  ptow 
upon  the  ground;  becoming  deeply  interested  as  the 
conversation  advanced  he  grasped  the  handle  of  the  plow, 
and  holding  it  out  at  arm's  length,  as  we  would  a  cane^ 
pointed  out  with  it  the  various  localities  of  which  he  was 
speaking.  The  prize  fighter  looked  on  in  utter  amaze- 
ment, when  suddenly  he  remembered  that  he  wished  to 
see  another  man  by  the  name  of  Schenck,  on  important 
business,   and   started   ofl^'  to  find  him. 

The  building  which  the  congregation  erected  on   the 
site  to  which  Roeleff  carted  the  stones  was  a  good,  substan- 
tial edifice,  nearly  as  large  as  the  one  we  now  occupy.  There 
were    three  windows  on  each    side,  and  a  large  double 
arched  door  in  the  center  of  the  gable  end  facing  the  road. 
It  had  a  steep,   hip  roof,  surmounted  by  a  sniall  belfry, 
crowned  with  the  four  points  of  the  compass  and  a   large 
brass  rooster.     This  finial  is   now   the   property  and  istn 
the  possession  of  Mr.  Asher  Holmes.  There  were  galleries 
extending  about  three-fourths  of  the  length   of  each   side, 
and  entirely  across  the  front.     The   building   was   ceiled 
within    with    boards  standing  on  end.    'The  "ceiling  over- 
head met  from  each   side  in  the  center,    from    winch    a 
hirge  wooden  ornament  resembling  an  acorn  was  pendent. 
The  pulpit   was  small,  but  quite'' high.     It  was  reached 
by  a  narrow  flight  of  stairs,  and  over  it  hung  a  sounding 
board  to  give  volume  and  depth  to   the   min'ister's   voice. 
For  many  years  there  were  no  pews  in  the  building.    The 
congregation  sat  on  benches,  the   men  around   tlfe  wall, 
the  women  in  the  center.     Some  used  double  chairs,  such 
as  were  generally  used  in  wagons    in  those  days,  and  may 
occasionally  be  seen  even    now  about   old    farm    houses. 
Some  of  the  families  would  ride   to  church  in  these  chairs 
and  tlipn   taking  them  out  of  their  wagons  would  carry 
them  into-  the  church  for  use  during  service.     Others,  the 
aristocracy  I  suppose,  kept  such  seats  especially  for  use  in 


32 

the  siinctiiary.  A  great  many  would  ride  to  church  on 
horseback.  One  horse  generally  carried  a  man  and  his 
wife,  and  very  frequently  the  baby  also.  Carriages  were 
uidviiown.  The  first  family  carriage  in  this  vicinity  was 
owned  by  Mr.  John  H.  Smock,  and  was  purchased  about 
seventy-five  years  ago.  Farm  wagons  without  springs 
were  thought  to  be  comfortable.  There  were  no  means 
for  heating  the  church.  Stoves  were  not  in  existence. 
Private  houses  were  made  warm  by  the  use  of  large  fire- 
places, but  churches  were  built  without  chimneys.  The 
ladies  brought  with  them  small  foot-stoves,  which  kept 
their  feet  warm,  while  good  homespun,  cloth  in  ample 
folds,  protected  their  persons. 

"  0  !  the  pleasant  days  of  old,  which  so  often  people  praise  ! 
True,  they  wanted  all  the  luxuries  that  grace  our  modern  days  : 
Bare  floors  were  strewed  with  rushes  —  the  walls  let  in  the  cold  ; 
0  !  how  ttiey  must  have  shivered  in  tiiose  pleasant  days  of  old." 

In  this  building  the  congregation  worshiped  more 
than  ninety  years.  It  was  taken  down  in  1826,  to  make 
room  for  the  house  we  are  now  occupying.  Mr.  Ilaeg- 
hoort  continued  the  pastor  of  tlie  church  only  four  years. 
He  baptized  123  infants,  and  when  resigning  his  call,  Au- 
gust 17,  1735,  left  119  persons  in  the  communion  of  the 
church,  G7  ot  whom  were  in  the  congregation  of  Freehold, 
and  ^2  in  that  of  Middletown. 

The  year  following  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Haeghoort, 
the  Rev.  Keynhard  Erickzon  was  recommended  to  the 
Consistory  as  one  who  would  probably  be  found  an  accept- 
able pastor,  by  the  Rev.  Theodorus  Jacobus  Frelinghuy- 
sen,*  of  Raritan.  The  result  is  thus  recorded  in  the 
haiidwritini;  of  Mr.  Frelinirhuvsen  : 


*  The  first  minister  of  the  Reformed  Cliurch  in  Central  New  Jersey, 
1720.  Gilbert  Tennent,  George  Whitfield  and  Jonatlian  Edwards  speak 
of  liim  as  one  of  tlie  great  divines  of  the  American  church.  He  was  the 
j[reat  grandfather  of  the  late  Hon.  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  who  for  many 
years  was  President  of  Rutgers  College. — See  Coni'in\i  Manual  of  Rvf.  Ch., 
pp.  87. 


33 

"  In  the  year  1730,  in  Decenaber,  a  meeting  of  the  Consistory  was  held 
at  Freehold  of  the  Navasink,  at  which  were  read  the  call  of  the  Rev.  Reyn- 
bard  Erickzon,  and  his  honorable  dismission  and  certificate  from  the  con- 
gregration  at  Schenectady.  The  which  certificate  being  found  lawful  and 
constitutional,  the  Rev.  R.  Erickzon  was  received  and  recognized  as  pas- 
tor and  teacher  of  the  congregation  of  Freehold  and  Middletown,  by  the 
Rev.  Consistory  of  that  place. 

"T.  J.   FRELINGHUYSEN,  President  Pro  Tem." 

During  the  first  twelve  years  of  Air.  Erickzon's  min- 
istry, after  which  for  some  cause   the  record   ceases,   80 
were  added  to  the   communion   of  the  church.     He  bap- 
tized 708  infants.     On  the  20th  of  May    he    administer- 
ed   the    rite    to   Garitje  and    Jantje,    twin   daugliters    of 
William   Cowenhoven   and   Elizabeth  Aumack.       When 
recording  the  baptism  of  his  own  son  the  Dominie  is  very 
explicit  in  stating  the  time  of  his  birth.    The  record  reads  : 
"  Wilem,  born  the  12th  of  September,  1737,  at  ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning."     He  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  church 
to  keep  a  record  of  marriages,  44  of  which  he  solemnized 
during  the  first  ten  years  of  his  ministry,  when  the  record 
ceases.     The  lirst  marriage  recorded    is  that  of  Johannes 
Langstraat  and  i\.ntje  Kouwenhove,   Dec.  17,  1736.     The 
records  show  that  it   was   not  as  easy  to  get   married  in 
those  days  as  it  is  at  present.     The  law  made  it  necessary 
for  the  persons  desirous  of  being  joined  in   wedlock   to 
have  their  names  entered  on  the  church  register,  together 
with  the  places  of  their  birth  and  their  present  residences, 
and  public   notice  given  of  their  purpose   three  or   four 
weeks   before    the    marriage    ceremony   was    performed. 
Failing  in    this   they  were   obliged   to  procure  a  special 
license  from  the   Governor   of  the    Colony.     An   extract 
from  the  records  may  he  of  interest  to  those  who  are  con- 
templating matrimony  : 

"  In  1740,  October  4th,  there  was  entered  and  published  the  mutual 
purpose  of  marriage  of  Jan  Sutveen,  a  young  man  born  and  living  in 
Freholt,  and  Pieternella  Stout,  a  young  woman  born  in  Middletowne  and 
living  in  Freholt,  and  October  30th  they  were  married."' 

"  In  1741,  Aug.  12th,  Roelef  Couwenhoven,  a  young  man,  and  Jan- 
netje  Hen dri kzon,  a  young  woman,  with  his  Excellencies  License  were 
married." 


34 

The  license  they  procured — following  the  form  then 
in  use,  as  I  timl  it  in  an  old  issue  of  the  New  York  Ga- 
zette— probably  read  as  follows  : 

"By  his  Excellency,  Lewis  Morris,  Esq.,  Captain  General  and  Gover- 
nor-in-riiief  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  in  America,  Vice  Admiral  of 
the  same,  ami  Colonel  in  His  Majesty's  army,  to  auy  Protestant  minister  : 
Whereas  there  is  a  mutual  purpose  of  marriage  between  Roelef  Couwen- 
hoven  of  Freehold,  Monmouth  county,  of  the  one  party,  and  Jannelje  Hen- 
driksou  of  the  same  place,  spinster,  of  the  other  party,  for  which  they  have 
desired  my  license,  and  have  given  bond  upon  conditions  that  neither  of 
them  have  any  lawful  let  or  impediment  of  precontract,  affinity  or  con- 
sanguinity to  hinder  their  being  joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  ; 
these  are  therefore  to  authorize  and  empower  you  to  join  the  said  Roelef 
Couwenhoven  and  Jannetje  Hendrikzon  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony, 
and  them  to  pronounce  man  and  wife. 

"Given  under  my  hand  and  prerogative  seal  at  Kingsbury,  the  IGlh 
day  of  July,  in  the  15th  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George 
tbe  2d,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  King, 
Defender  of  the  Faith,  Annoque  Domini,  1741. 

( )  Sect.  LEWIS  MORRIS." 

8uch  a  license  was  quite  expensive,  and  therefore  by 
far  the  greater  number  preferred  to  have  their  names  en- 
tered on  tlie  cliurch  register,  and  their  purpose  of  mar- 
riage published  from  the  pulpit,  although  the  expectant 
bride,  if  present  at  the  time,  was  suffused  with  blushes,  or, 
if  not  very  pious  and  unable  to  pass  such  a  trying  ordeal, 
denied  herself  for  a  time  the  privilege  of  attending  the 
services  of  the  sanctuary.  Customs  may  change,  but  wo- 
man remains  the  same. 

Dominie  Erickzon  was  a  Swede.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  172r>.  He  was  then  about  25  years  of  age.  He 
sailed  from  Holland  with  his  brother  and  sist'er  in  the  ship 
King  (TTOorge,  Captain  Saul  l*ayton.  He  was  iirst  settled 
at  Hackensack,  Paramas  and  Schraalenbergh,  where  his 
labors  were  very  greatly  blessed  of  God,  and  converts 
were  multiplied.  After  a  three  3'ears  ministry  he  re- 
moved to  Schenectady,  and  there  also  was  cheered  and 
greatly  encouraged  by  constant  and  growing  accessions 
to  the  communion  of  the  church. 

For  a  portion  of  the  time  he  ministered  at  •stated 
periods  to   the   people  of  Schoharie,    in    the    Old    Dutch 


35 

Church,  of  which,  in  after  years,  my  father  was  pastor,  and 
whicli  still  stands,  although,  unoccupied  for  many  years, 
at  the  northern  end  of  Scholiarie  village,  a  memento  of 
the  Kevolution,  and  associated  with  the  memories  of  my 
own  childhood. 

When  entering  upon  liis  labors  here,   Mr.   Erickzon 
was  in  the  prime  of  life,  an  experienced  jjastor,  and  a  suc- 
cessful minister.     He  was  a  man  of  considerable  intellect- 
ual ability,  highly  esteemed  by  his  ministerial  associates, 
and  influential  in  the  counsels  of  the  church.     He  was  as- 
sociated   with    the  Frelinghuysens,   Goetschius,  Harden- 
bergh   and  Westerlo  in  preparing   young    men   for    the 
Gospel  ministry.    Johannes  Schuyler,  who  for  along  time 
was  the  only  pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Schoharie 
county,  was  one  of  his  pupils.     Tlie  period  of  Mr.  Erick- 
zon's  ministry  was  one  of  confusion  and  high  party  spirit 
througliout  the  Dutch  churches— occasioned  by  a  differ- 
ence of  opinion  concerning  the  maintenance  or  the  disso- 
lution of  the  connection  subsisting  between   the  churches 
of  America  and  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  Holland.  From 
the  first  settlement  of  the  country  the  churches  had  looked 
to  this  Classis   for  clerical   supplies.     Ministers  were  or- 
dained by  them  with   the    approbation    of  the   Synod    of 
North  Holland,  and  then  sent  to  America  to  preach  the 
Gospel.      The  churches  here   were  denied   the  privilege 
of  granting  license  to  their  own   young  men.     To  be  or- 
dained, a   man    was    compelled    to  journey    to   Holland. 
This  arrangement,  because   of  its  great  inconvenience  as 
the  churches  increased,   became  burdensome  and   odious 
to  a  large  portion  of  the  church   membership.     Those  in 
favor  of  its  abandonment,  and  the  organization  of  an  in- 
dependent Classis  in  this  country,  were  called  the   Ccetus, 
while  those  who  desired  to  remain  under  the  care  of  the 
Classis  of  Amsterdam,  were  called  the   Coiifercntia.     The 
controversy  was  bitter,  fierce  and  long.     Some  congrega- 
tions were  rent  in  twain,  and  evil  passions  aroused,  wlik-h 
issued   in   personal   animosity   and   hatred.       The  confer- 
•entia  party  was  the  most  violent,  but  of  both  we  can  say  : 


36 

"  Opponents  of  that  stubborn  sort  were  they, 
Wlio,  if  they  once  grow  fond  of  an  opinion. 
They,  call  it  honor,  honesty,  and  faith, 
And  sooner  i)art  with  life  than  let  it  go." 

Dr.  Strong  tells  us,  in  his  history  of  Flatbiish,  from 
which  locality  a  largo  number  of  oar  Monmouth  county 
families  immigrated,  that  on  one  occasion  two  of  these 
ecclesiastical  opponents  meeting  on  the  highway  in  their 
wagons,  they  refused  to  turn  out  for  one  another.  The 
horses  were  stopped  liead  to  head.  For  awh.ile  the  two 
men  gazed  at  each  other  furiously.  Each  then  deliber- 
ately took  out  his  pipe,  and  filling  it  with  tobacco,  com- 
menced to  smoke — and  there  they  sat  and  smoked  and 
smoked.  Their  pipes  grew  hot  but  still  they  smoked. — 
How  long  I  know  not.  It  may  be  that  at  last  their  pipes 
proved  a  calumet  of  peace.  Tobacco  is  soothing.  A  poet 
has  said  that  : 

"  Savage  warriors,  softened  by  its  breath. 

Unbind  the  captive  hate  had  doom'd  to  death." 

But  from  what  is  known  of  Dutch  perseverence,  we 
can  probably  say  of  these  conferentia  and  coetus  antao-- 
onists,  as  it  is  written  in  song  : 

"  If  they  are  not  dead, 

They  are  smoking  there  still." 

Mr.  Erickzon  belonged  to  the  coetus  party.  Both 
he  and  his  Elder,  Mr.  J.  Sutphin,  subscribed  the  articles 
of  organization  in  1738.  At  the  first  mectino;  of  the 
coetus,  nine  years  after,  in  1747,  Mr.  P>ickzon  was  pres- 
ent with  his  Elder,  Matthew  Pieterson,  and  was  chosen 
president.  His  name,  as  such,  appears  on  the  commission 
granted  by  the  coetus  party,  in  1751^,  to  the  Kev.  Theodo- 
rus  Frclinghuysen*  to  solicit  funds  in  Holland  for  found- 
ing a  Dutch    Academy    or    Seminary    in    America,    "in 

*  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Theodorus  Jncobns  Frelingluiysen.  He  sailed 
from  New  York,  Oct.  10th,  1759,  to  fulfill  his  commission,  but  he  never 
returned.  There  is  a  mystery  concerning  his  fate.  The  plans  thus  inau- 
gurnled  were  not  consun.mnled  until  si.xteeii  years  later,  v\  hen  Qnetn's, 
now  Rutgers,  College  was  chartered.—  "  Corvin'x  Mamiul." 


37 

which  should  be  taught  both  the  arts  and  theology."  In 
this  we  learn  the  origin  of  the  College  and  Seminary  at 
New  Brunswick,  which  have  furnished  the  Reformed 
Church  with  the  great  majority  of  her  ministers. 

Towards  the  close  of  his  pastorate,  because  of  some 
personal  oftense,  Mr.  Erickzon  joined  the  conferentia  par- 
ty, but  never  became  a  very  active  partisan.  He  was 
married  twice.  The  first  time  in  1726,  at  Hackensack,  to 
Maria  Provost.  The  second  time,  while  settled  here,  in 
1736,  to  Sarah  Luyster,  the  widow  of  Rulif  Brokaw,  and 
daughter  of  Johannes  Luyster  and  Lucretia  Brower,  who 
resided  near  Middletown  village.  In  tlie  latter"  part  of 
his  ministry— which  lasted  for  twenty-seven  years— he  be- 
came a  victim  to  the  drinking  customs  of  the  day.  The 
Consistory  made  out  charges  against  him,  withheld  his 
salary  and  excluded  him  from  the  pulpit.  He  continued 
to  reside  in  the  parsonage  until  1770,  six  years  after  his 
successor  was  called.  He  then  removed  to  New  Bruns- 
wick, and  resided  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Van  Norden. 
He  died  soon  after  tliis,  and  his  widow  returned  to  Mid- 
dletown, her  native  place.  His  remains,  it  is  said,  were 
also  conveyed  to  Monmouth  county  for  burial.  If  so,  he 
lies  in  an  unknown  grave,  tliough  wor,thy  of  being  honor- 
ed as  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  American  Reformed  Church. 
An  excellent  portrait  of  him  is  in  the  possession  of  Rev. 
Garret  C.  Scheuck. 

In  justice  to  th^  memory  of  Dominie  Morgan  and 
Dominie  Erickzon,  both  of  whom,  when  advanced  in  life, 
were  "  overtaken  with  a  fault,"  through  the  drinking 
customs  of  the  day,  it  seems  to  me  necessary  to  di-aw  the 
vail  from  a  portion  of  liistory  I  would  gladly  overlook— 
the  universal  use  in  that  day  of  intoxicating  liquors. 
During  the  eighteenth  century  every  family  used  wine  or 
rum,  more  freely  and  frequently  than  they  now  use  tea  or 
coffee.  It  was  a  breach  of  etiquette  not  to  ofier  your 
guests  some  sort  of  liquor,  a  greater  breach  for  the  guest 
to  refuse  the  offered  cup.  The  Dominie,  in  visiting  his 
congregation,  was  expected  to  drink  at  every  house  h^'e  en- 


38 

tered.  Those  still  living,  liav6  told  me  of  their  giving 
great  offence  to  christian  families,  when  they  first  entered 
the  ministry,  by  refusing  to  drink  with  them.  Farmers 
thought  it  impossible  to  get  through  harvest  without  pro- 
viding their  hired  men  with  plenty  of  rum.  Wine  flowed 
freely,  not  only  at  weddings,  but  even  at  funerals.  Many 
who  entered  the  ministry,  not  more  than  fifty  years  ago, 
w^ere  denounced  and  persecuted,  because  of  their  teaching 
the  necessity  of  total  abstinence.  The  wonder  is  not, 
that  now  and  then,  in  advanced  life,  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel  fell  before  the  vice.  The  wonder  is,  that  the 
church  itself  was  not  utterly  destroyed.  Nothing  but  the 
omnipotent  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  saved  it  from 
annihilation.  It  becomes  us  to  send  on  high  loud  halle- 
lujahs of  thanksgiving  to  God  for  the  great  change 
wrought  in  opinion  and  sentiment  and  custom,  through 
the  power  of  the  Gospel,  and  to  cherisli  towards  those 
who  having  fought  boldly  and  manfully  for  God  in  the 
prime  of  life,  but  who  through  the  weakness  of  old  age  un- 
wittingly went  astray,  that  charity,  without  which  our  own 
character  is  nothing.  The  Captain  of  our  Salvation  leads 
many  a  wounded,  crippled  soldier  to  glory. 

The  venerable  Dr.  James  S.  Canon  has  related  an  in- 
cident that  occurred  not  long  after  the  Consistory  of  this 
church  denied  Dominie  Erickzon  the  use  of  the  pulpit. 
The  Dominie  was  in  company,  one  evening,  at  the  house 
of  a  friend  in  the  city  of  New  York,  with  one  Eirens  Van 
Der  Speigel,  who  seems  to  have  been — 

"   A  creature  of  one  mighty  sense, 
Concentrated  impudence." 

In  the  course  of  tlie  evening  they  chanced  to  converse 
nj)on  the  duties  of  the  ministry.  Mr.  Erickzon  dwelt 
much  on  their  arduous  nature.  Mr.  Van  Der  Speigel 
thouglit  there  was  much  to  be  done  in  the  way  of  visiting, 
attending  funerals,  and  olhei-  pastoral  lal)ors,  but  as  to 
prcac/iiv(/,  that  was  nothing.  Mr.  Erickzon  thought  he 
knew  very  little  of  whnt  he  aflirmed.  But  Van  Der  Spei- 
gel said,  he  thought  he   could   himself  preach   as  good   a 


39 

sermon    as  any   other   man.     Mr.  Erickzon  replied,    "  I 
would  like  to  see  you  make  the  attempt."     "  I  am  willino- 
to  do  so,"  xVIr.  Van  Der  Speigel   said,   "  if  you  will  give 
me  an  opportunity."     It  was  then  agreed  that  the  same 
party  should  meet  at  a  private  house,  on  a  certain  evening 
and  that  Mr.  Van  Der  Speigel  should  preach.     The   eve- 
ning arrived.     The  party  assembled,  and  by  private  invi- 
tations and  the  earnest  solicitations  of  Mr.  Erickzon,  had 
been  swelled  to  quite  a  large  audience  ;  a  hymn  was  suno- 
and  the  Dominie  requested  to  lead  in   prayer,   which    he 
did,  and  then  took  his  seat  directly  in  front  of  the  speak- 
er.    Mr.  Van  Der  Speigel  took  his  text  "  Be   not  drunk 
with  wine  wherein  is  excess,"   and  proceeded  in  a   bold 
and  eloquent  manner  to  deliver  a  discourse   which   had 
been  previously  delivered  by  a   minister  in   Holland,   be- 
fore his  Classis,  at  the  deposition  of  a  minister  for  intem- 
perance, and  which  Mr.  Van  Der  Speigel  had  committed 
thoroughly  to  memory.     As  he  proceeded  to  speak  of  the 
evils  of  intemperance   in   general,  Mr.   Erickzon  became 
uneasy  in  his  seat.     As  he  went  on  to  speak  of  its  aggra- 
vations in  professors  of  religion,  Mr.    Erickzon   began    to 
wriggle  exceedingly,  turning  now  one  side  and   now   the 
other  to  the  speaker,   and  glancing  furtively  around  upon 
the  assembly.     xMr.  Van  Der   Speigel   at  length  came  to 
the  main  branch  of  his  discourse,   "the  evirinfluence  of 
intemperance  in  a  minister  of  the   Gospel."     Mr.  Erick- 
zon's  choler  rose  higher  and  his  position  in  his  chair  was 
changed  more  frequently,  until  the  application  of  the    dis- 
course becoming  too  pointed   to   be   longer  endured,   he 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  with  a   signilicant^gesture,   similar 
to  that  of  a  man  in  whipping  his  horse,   he  exclaimed,  in 
Dutch,  "  I  can  no  longer  bear  it  and  I  will  no  longer  bear 
it."     He  was  as  good  as  his  word.     He  abandoned  excess.  " 
He  became   temperate.     Both  he  and  Dominie  Morgan, 
though  they  fell,  like  Noah,  like  Noah  rose  again  victorious- 
ly, and  triumphed  through  the  grace  of  the  Lord   Jesus 
Christ.   A  cloud  sometimes  obscures  the  sun,  but  after  a  lit- 
tle while  the  sun  shines  again  as  brightly  as  ever  ;  and  so 


40 

the  lives  of  these  two  men,  obscured  for  a  moment  by  a 
passing  cloud,  shine  out  at  tiie  hist  brightly  and  gloriously. 
Their  foes  were  mighty,  tlic  conflict  was  tierce,  but  they 
came  oft"  as  conquerors  through  llim  who  loved  them  ;  and 
receivintr  the  crown,  heard  their  victory  proclaimed  in  the 
blessed  words,  "  Well  done,   enter  into   the  joy  of  your 

Lord." 

Fn  1704,  the  same  year  in  which  Mr.  Erickzon's  min- 
istry closed,  Rev.  Benjamin  DuBois,  a  young  man,  just 
licensed  by  the  American  Classis  to  preach  the  Gospel, 
was  called  to  occupy  the  vacant  pulpit.  There  is  no  re- 
cord to  be  found  of  his  installation  and  ordination. 

Tie  was  born  at  Pittsgrove,  Salem  county,  N.  J., 
March  30th,  1739,  and  was  baptised  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  there  in  which  his  tiither  was  an .  Elder.  He 
Avas  the  son  of  Lewis  DuBois,  a  lineal  descendent  of  the 
French  Huguenots  of  New  Paltz.  His  mother's  name 
was  Margaret  Jansen,  who  was  born  in  Kingston,  of  Low 
Dutch  descent.  He  was  educated  at  Poughkeepsie,  and 
studied  theology  with  Pev.  Johannes  H.  Goetschius,  of 
Hackensack,  N.  J.  A  short  time  after  his  settlement 
here,  he  married  Phemertje  Denise,  the  daughter  of  Tunis 
Denise  and  Francynthe  Hendrickson,  of  Freehold,  a  wo- 
man of  intelligence  and  activity,  sprightly,  prudent  and 
pious.  They  had  ten  children,  four  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  wore  married,  were  highly  respected  for 
their  virtuous  principles  and  became  members  in  full  com- 
munion of  the  Church  of  Christ.  Four  of  them  settled  in 
this  locality,  and  their  descendents  are  very  largely  repre- 
sented here  to-day,  among  those  who  are  active  in  the 
I  work  of  the  Lord.  When  Mr.  DuBois  commenced  his 
'  ministry,  the  coetus  and  conferentia  difficulties  were  at 
I  their  height.  lie  had  preached  l)ut  a  short  time  when  he 
delivered  a  sermon,  which  greatly  displeased  his  predeces- 
sor, Mr.  Erickzon,  who  still  resided  in  the  congregation, 
and  then  consorted  with  the  conferentia  party.  The  con- 
gregation was  divided  in  opinion  and  sentiment.  The  con- 
trovcrsv   grew    mort'    and  moio    intense   for    years.     The 


41 

Conferentia  party  became  extremely   violent.       They  re- 
fused to  attend   religions  services  conducted   by   Mr.   Du 
Bois.     They  even  went  so  far  as  to  call  for  the  perform- 
ance of  the  appropriate  duties  of  their  pastor,  by  one  of 
the  ministers  of  their  own  party  from  a    neighboring  con- 
gregation.    A  minute   is   entered   on    tlie  records  of  the 
church,  from   which   it  appears,  that  in   1770,   the  Rev. 
Isaac  Rysdyck,  pastor  of  the  churches  at  Fishkill,   Hope- 
well and  N'ew  Hackensack,  a  violent  partisan   and  one  of 
the  most  prominent  of  the  Conferentia  party,   visited  the 
congregation,  and  on  the  16th  of  September,  baptised  five 
children  at  Middletown.     A    few   days  after  he  baptised 
another  child,  and  together  with  the  Elders  of  the  church 
at  Middletown,  received  five  persons  into  the  communion 
of  the  church,  on  confession  of  their  faith.     At  this  time, 
it  is  said,  to  the  honor    of  the  congregation,   the   church 
was  closed  against  Mr.    Rysdyck,  who  was   compelled   to 
preach  in   a   barn,  somewhere    in    Middletown.     At   this 
time  he  also   administered   the   sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  to  the  Conferentia  party.     A  more  unwarrantable 
interference  with   the   duties    of  a    pastor,    or   a    o-reater 
breach  of  ministerial    etiquette  it  is  difficult   to  imagine. 
But  the  disturbing  forces   were   happily  quieted   by    Mr. 
DuBois.     Three  years  after  the  unpleasant  occurence  he 
entered  the  names  of  the  persons  thus  received,  and  of  the 
baptised  children,  upon  the  church  register,  with   tlje  fol- 
lowing explanation  :     "  Names  of  the  children  baptised, 
with  the  names  of  their  respective  parents,  also  the  names 
of  the  members    who  were  received    by    a    confession    of 
their  faith,  in  the  congregation  at  Middletown,  by  Dominie 
Isaac  Rysdyck,  Sept.  10th,  1770— being  a  time  of  the  dif- 
ferences in  the  congregation — tlie  which  persons  after  the 
time  of  union,  by  me.   Dominie  Benjamin   DuBois,   were 
entered  on  the  church  register  of  the  combined  Reformed 
congregations  of  Freehold  and  Middletown."* 

*  Of  this  Rev.  Isaac  Rysdyck,  Dr.  Brownlee  says  ;  "He  was  in    his  day 
considered  the  most  learned  theologian  in    tlie  Dutch   church."     Dr.  Kip 
in  his  history  of  the  Fishkill  church,   says    that    Dominie    Rysdyck  '"  be- 
lonc^ed  to  tiie  Conferentia  party,  but  ne%'er  manifested  much    bitterness   of 
spirit."     The  facts  I  have  related  speak  for  themselves. 


42 

Tradition  has  preserved  a  domestic  scene,  which  shows 
that  although  Dominie  DuBois  and  Dominie  Erickzon 
differed  in  rehxtion  to  tlie  question  of  tlie  Coetus,  they  did 
not  permit  tlieir  difFcrences  to  disturb  friendly  relations 
between  themselves  and  their  families.  They  were  inti- 
mate acquaintances  for  many  years.  One  time,  while 
on  a  visit  at  the  old  parsonage,  we  are  told  that  Air. 
Van  Norden,  who  married  the  daughter  of  Dominie  Erick- 
zon, chanced  to  meet  Mr.  David  Van  Der  Veer,  who  had 
married  the  daughter  of  Dominie  DuBois.  While  convers- 
ing with  each  other,  Mr.  VanXorden,  pointing  to  a  par- 
ticular place  on  the  floor  of  the  room  in  which  they  were 
sitting,  said,  "  That  is  the  place  where  I  stood  when  I  mar- 
ried my  wife."  "  And  that  is  the  very  spot  wliere  I  mar- 
ried mine,"  replied  Mr,  Van  Der  Veer.  "  But  I,"  said 
Mr.  Van  Norden,  "  married  a  Dominie's  daughter." 
"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Van  Der  Veer,  "  so  did  I  marry  a  Domi- 
nie's daughter."  "  But  this  was  my  wife's  home,"  said 
Mr.  Van  Norden,  "and  her  father  joined  us  in  marriage." 
"  And  this,"  said  Mr.  Van  Der  Veer,  "  was  my  wife's 
home,  and  her  father  joined  us  in  marriage."  They  both 
thought,  as  I  think,  having  enjoyed  the  same  privilege, 
that  there  is  nothing  to  be  compared  with  marrying  a 
Dominie's  daughter,  unless  it  be  the  marrying  of  some- 
body else's  daughter. 
I  During  this  period  of  Mr.  DuBois's  ministry,   a  new 

house  of  worship  was  erected  at  Middletown,  on  the  place 
I  where  the  old  one  stood.  The  subscription  for  defraying 
i  the  necessary  expenses  bears  date  February  tlie  28th,  1764, 
This  was  in  the  midst  of  the  Coetus  difficulties  ;  and  the 
decided  Conferentia  principles  of  the  congregation  are 
manifested  by  the  peculiar  wording  of  the  subscription. 
It  is  exjjressly  stipulated,  "  The  church  for  which  we  sub- 
scribe is  to  be  the  National  Church  of  the  High  Synod 
of  Dort,  established  in  the  years  1(118  and  1619." 
On  this  paper  w-e  find  the  names  of  63  subscribers.  The 
amount  of  their  subscription  is  335  pounds;  14  pounds  is  the 
largest  sum  subscribed,  and  lo  the  credit  of  the  ladies,  who 


43 

are  generally  foremost  in  good  works,  when  they  have 
means  at  their  own  disposal,  it  is  the  subscription  of  "  Mrs. 
Jane  Schenck,  widow."  The  house  of  worship  thus  erect- 
ed was  known  for  many  years  as  the  Red  Meeting  House. 
It  corresponded  in  size  with  the  one  at  Freehold,  and  was 
very  much  such  a  building.  It  was  used  for  divine  wor- 
ship until  the  erection  of  the  Holmdel  church. 

In  178/>  the  church  building  at  Freehold  was  repaired 
and  improved.  A  chimney  was  built  and  a  large  stove 
purchased.  The  rude  benches  which  had  formerly  been 
used  were  taken  out  and  replaced  with  pews.  To  meet 
this  expense  the  pews  were  sold  at  public  auction. 
The  terms  of  the  sale  are  carefully  penned  in  the 
hand-writing  of  the  pastor.  From  these  it  appears  all 
right  and  title  to  a  pew  should  cease  so  soon  as  a  pew- 
holder  or  his  heirs  should  cease  to  pay  for  the  support  of 
the  minister.  Preference  was  also  given  to  certain  per- 
sons, on  account  of  extraordinary  services  rendered  by 
them,  over  and  above  the  rest  of  the  congregation.  These 
favored  ones  were  Garret  Cowenhoven,  Esq.,  John  Tyle, 
Benjamin  Van  Cleef,  Cornelius  Cowenhoven  and  William 
Cowenhoven.  To  these  persons  it  was  granted,  that  they 
should  have,  as  of  their  own  right,  the  choice  of  each  one 
a  pew,  to  be  held  by  them  on  the  same' terms  with  others. 
The  seats  in  the  gallery  were  not  overlooked.  Concern- 
ing them  it  was:  ''Resolved,  The  seats  on  the  gallery  shall 
be  free  for  any  :  only  the  subscribers  and  singers  shall 
have  the  preference  to  seat  themselves  wherever  they 
choose,  so  as  may  suit  best  for  carrying  on  the  difi'erent 
parts  ot  music." 

There  was  considerable  contention  about  this  time 
in  relation  to  the  singing.  The  younger  portion  of  the 
congregation,  who  conducted  this  part  of  the  worship, 
were  desirous  of  using  new  tunes,  which  the  older  peo- 
ple could  not  sing,  nor  enjo}'.  The  dissatisfaction  thus 
occasioned,  and  to  a  certain  extent  very  reasonably  occa- 
sioned, assumed  an  aspect  so  serious  as  to  demand  the 
attention   of  the   Consistory.     On   the  26th  of  February, 


44 

1787,  a  long  list  of  resolutions  were  passed,  reviewing  the 
whole  matter  in  an  original  manner,  and  concluding  as 
follows  : 

"  Resoloed,  Tluit  tlie  Consistory,  not  wishing  to  Lord  it  over  God's 
heritajre,  will  not  with  stern  command  saj'  to  our  congreoralions,  you  shall 
or  you  shall  not  improve  nor  practice  in  any  collection  of  Psalm  tunes 
whatever.  We  leave  the  christian  where  God  hath  left  him,  to  the  liberty 
of  his  own  conscience,  to  sing  in  private  what  Psalm  or  Psalm  tune  he 
please,  and  wben  he  sings  in  consort,  we  recommend  him  to  sing  in  order 
and  decently,  as  the  Apostle  would  have  all  things  should  be  done." 

The  contention  respecting  the  change  from  Dutch  to 
English  preaching,  commenced  with  the  settlement  of  Mr. 
DuBois.  The  English  language  was  introduced  in  the 
Freeliold  congregation  during  theiirst  year  of  his  ministry^ 
without  much  opposition.  But  not  so  at  Middletown.  In 
that  congregation  there  were  some  who  yielded  a  very  re- 
hictant  consent,  and  a  few  who  bitterly  opposed  it  to  the 
very  last.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Consistory  in  1766,  held 
at  Freehold,  it  was  "Resolved,  that  those  who  wish  to  en- 
joy the  services  of  our  minister  in  the  English  language,  in 
our  church  at  Middletown,  shall  have  their  request  to  the 
half  of  the  service  in  that  congregation."  About  twenty 
years  after  this,  in  1785,  it  was  resolved  in  a  church  coun- 
cil at  Middletown,  that  the  Dutch  and  English  preaching 
shall  be  in  proportion  to  Dutch  and  English  subscription 
for  salar3\  The  following  year  it  was  ascertained,  in  com- 
pliance with  this  resolution,  that  the  proportion  of  Dutch 
service  should  not  be  more  than  three  Sabbaths  a  year, 
and  it  was  left  to  the  option  of  the  pastor  to  make  an  ad- 
dress in  English,  after  the  Dutch  service.  It  Avas  also 
"  Resolved,  that  if  for  the  want  of  Dutch  singers  it  seem 
expedient,  the  pastor,  if  he  choose,  may  have  English 
singing  and  preach  in  Dutch.''  The  Dominie,  I  am  con- 
fident, enjoyed  the  preaching  in  Dutch. 

The  English  language  was  a  ibreign  tongue.  The 
story  is  told,  that  several  years  ago,  an  aged  lady,  who 
when  young  dwelt  in  this  vicinity,  but  wlio  had  been 
a  resident  of  nnotlier  State  for  a  long  lime,  was  asked  if 
slie  rfmenibcred  anv  of  the  Schcncks,  of  Monmouth  coun- 


45 

tj,  New  Jersey  ?  "  Oh,  yes,"  she  replied,  "  I  remember 
one  who  had  a  cliild  baptised,  by  the  name  of  De  La  Fa- 
yette." "What  makes  you  remember  that  ?"  her  ques- 
tioner inquired.  "Because,"  she  answered,  "Dominie 
DuBois,  the  good  man,  stuttered  so,  and  made  such  a  fuss 
in  pronouncing  the  name,  I  have  never  forgotten  it." 

The  revolutionary  war  was  the  occasion  of  much  dis- 
turbance and  difficulty  in  the  congregation.  The  County 
of  Monmouth,  from  its  peculiar  position,  was  especially 
exposed.  It  was  liable,  not  only  to  frequent  raids  from 
foreign  enemies,  but  suffered,  it  is  said,  to  a  great  extent 
from  the  Refugees,  the  lawless  tories  wlio  took  up  arms 
against  their  former  neighbors. 

Families  were  divided  in  sentiment ;  fathers  and  sons 
took  different  sides.  At  one  time  the  Refugees  gained 
the  ascendency  and  held  possession  of  Freehold  village  for 
a  week  or  ten  days.  They  were  driven  out  by  the  Whigs. 
Thirteen  were  executed  at  different  times,  on  a  gallows 
that  stood  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Court  House.  "  Many 
were  sent  as  prisoners  to  Ilagerstown.  The  Refugees 
were  so  annoying,  tliat  the  inhabitants  favorable  to  the 
popular  cause,  bound  themselves  together  for  the  purpose 
of  defense,  by  articles  of  agreement. 

The  names  of  nearly  all,  who  com'posed  tJds  congre- 
gation, are  signed  to  these  articles.  The  name  of  Mr. 
DuBois  is  not  to  be  found,  but  it  is  probably  because  he 
was  a  minister  of  the  Gospel.  He  frequently  shouldered 
his  gun  and  his  knapsack,  and  went  out  in  his  turn  on 
patrol  "like  a  pack-horse,"  as  was  sneeringly  said  by  a 
noted  tory  of  his  congregation.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
perfectly  fearless.  One  day,  when  out  in  a  skirmish,  he 
was  so  eager  to  press  upon  the  enemy,  he  could  not  be 
kept  in  line,  and  Col.  Holmes  was  obliged  to  make  a  dif- 
ferent disposition  of  his  troops,  to  prevent  him  from  being 
singled  out  and  shot  down.  Returning  home  from  one  of 
his  military  expeditions  with  a  friend,  they  beheld  at  a 
distance  a  party  of  British  passing  by  ;  they  were  too  far 
off  to  do  them  any  injury,  but  the  Dominie    laid   his  gun 


46 

on  an  old  fence,  deliberately  took  aim  and  fired,  remark- 
ing pleasantly,  "  They  will  not  be  able  to  say,  after  this, 
that  I  have  never  fired  at  the  enemy."  He  frequently 
commended  the  Patriot  cause  in  his  sermons,  and  invaria- 
bly made  their  struggle  for  liberty  the  subject  of  his  pub- 
lic prayers. 

The  difficulties  and  troubles  we  have  mentioned 
bear  eloquent  testimony  to  the  christian  character  of 
Mr.  DuBois.  Dwelling  among  a  people  of  discordant 
views  on  a  variety  of  subjects,  an  officious  neighboring 
minister,  interfering  with  his  labors  and  fomenting  dis- 
cord ;  the  worst  passions  of  the  human  heart,  stirred  by 
the  exciting  political  issues  of  the  da}',  war  raging  and 
the  people  of  his  charge  sympathizing  with  opposing 
armies  and  factions,  he  must  have  been  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  wisdom,  meekness,  prudence  and  discre- 
tion, inasmuch  as  lie  maintained  his  ground  and  conduct- 
ed himself  in  such  a  manner  as  to  win  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  those  who  difl^ered  from  him.  He  continued 
the  pastor  of  this  very  people  for  63  years. 

In  1817  he  was  relieved  from  the  active  duties  of  the 
ministr}'  by  the  labors  of  a  colleague,  but  he  was  never  de- 
clared Emeritus,  and  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved 
only  by  his  death.  He  was  the  settled  pastor  of  this 
church  for  63  years.  That  is  by  far  the  longest  pastor- 
ate in  the  historj'  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Ameri- 
ca. It  is  not  probable  that  any  minister  has  remained  the 
pastor  of  the  same  people  for  a  longer  time.  Very  few 
continue  so  long  as  did  he,  53  years  in  the  discharge  of 
the  full  round  of  ministerial  duties. 

He  received  166  persons  into  the  communion  of  the 
church,  baptised  1,283  infimts,  married  725  couples.  The 
last  marriage  ceremony  he  performed,  was  Sept.  28,  1818, 
when  he  united  in  marriage  Denise  Denise  and  Altie 
Hulse. 

In  recording  baptisms  he  iiuuigurated  a  custom  con- 
tinued through  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Marcellus,  of  desig- 
nating certain  parents  as  "  not  re8pohsil)le  "   or  as  "not 


47 

in  "'  the  baptismal  engagement.  The  first  of  these  is  very 
curious.  It  reads,  "  1783,  April  6th,  Benjamin  McDan- 
nel,  not  in  covenant,  Mary  Easlick,  liis  wife,  in  covenant 
and  deceased."  Well  versed  in  the  Scriptures,  the  Domi- 
nie knew  that  tlie  child  of  a  believer  was  born  in  the 
church  and  belonged  to  tlie  church,  and  although  its 
mother  had  gone  to  the  heavenly  home  on  high,  ought  to 
be  consecrated  to  God  in  holy  baptism.  The  name  of 
Mary  Cowenhoven  is  recorded  as  sponsor  or  God-mother 
at  this  baptism.  It  was  not  a  rare  thing  to  have  sponsors 
in  that  day.  The  custom  long  ago  became  obsolete,  none 
appearing  later  than  1804. 

Dominie  DuBois  was  the  first  to  record  the  election 
of  Kirken  Masters  for  each  of  the  churches,  a  term  he 
afterwards  translates  "  Saxt07W."  They  were  elected  an- 
nually, and  only  once  or  twice  was  the  same  person 
chosen  for  successive  years.  The  services  they  rendered 
were  entirely  gratuitous.  The  position  was  considered 
one  of  dignity  and  honor.  The  first  whose  names  are  re- 
corded, were  chosen  May  16th,  1765.  For  Middletown, 
Garret  Hendrickson.  For  Freehold,  Cornelius  Cowen- 
hoven, son  of  one  Albert  Cowenhoven.  The  last  whose 
names  are  recorded,  were  cliosen  May  loth,  1817.  For 
Middletown,  Peter  Smock,  son  of  one  RoelifiSmock.  For 
Freehold,  Elisha  Schenck.  In  1815  this  ofiice  at  Freehold 
was  occupied  by  Mr.  Peter  VanDorn,  whose  death  oc- 
curred only  a  few  months  ago. 

During  the  ministry  of  Mr.  DuBois,  Communion  Sab- 
baths were  called  Great  Meeting  days.  The  audience  was 
larger  than  at  any  other  time.  Every  communicant,  if 
possible,  was  present.  The  services  were  long.  Many 
brought  a  lunch  to  eat  between  the  morning  and  after- 
noon sessions.  It  was  a  time  of  reunion  and  friendly 
cheer,  as  well  as  of  holy  communion  with  God.  But  this 
is  not  all.  There  were  in  those  days,  as  now  there  are, 
those  who  improved  every  opportunity  to  make  a  few 
pennies.  There  was  in  front  of  the  old  church  a  large 
chestnut  tree,  and  under  that  tree  on  Great  Meeting  days 


48 

tlicre  ^vas  alAvays  to  be  seen  a  man  with  a  wagon  offering 
for  sale  cake  and  small  beer.  Nor  were  customers  lacking. 
After  the  sermon  the  great  majority  of  those  who  were 
not  communicants,  were  in  the  habit  of  leaving  the  church 
and  thought  it  no  harm  to  refresh  themselves  with  the 
offered  cake  and  beer.  There  are  those  now  living 
who  can  remember,  that  as  children,  they  beguiled  the 
time  of  service  by  feeling  of  the  pennies  in  their  pockets, 
with  which  they  expected  to  treat  themselves  at  the  small 
beer  wagon,  when  the  sermon  closed. 

The  Sabbatli  was  also  most  frequently  chosen  as  a 
wedding  day.  Friends  were  invited  from  far  and  near 
and  a  great  feast  made.  The  Dutch  have  always  been 
proverbial  for  their  hospitality.  So  frequent  were  Sunday 
weddings,  not  onl}'  here,  but  generaUy  throughout  the 
land,  that  both  Synod  and  Classis  thouglit  it  necessary  to 
condemn  the  custom,  and  I  learn  from  a  minute  in 
the  records  of  the  church,  that  from  the  pulpit  Dominie 
DuBois  expressed  his  disapproval  of  Sunday  weddings, 
and  exhorted  the  people  "  not  to  marry  on  the  Lord's  day, 
but  in  case  of  necessity." 

Funerals  also  were  attended  with  a  large  amount  of 
unnecessary  labor.  There  was  much  cooking  and  feast- 
ing. All  the  friends  were  expected  to  return  to  the  house 
and  partake  of  a  good  meal.  Sunday,  of  all  days,  was  con- 
sidered the  best  for  these  funeral  ceremonies,  which  not 
unfrequently  were  attended  with  disorder.  Such  things 
seem  to  us  to  be  highly  im[)ro[)er.  But  we  should  not 
Ibrget  that  our  views  are  clearer,  and  our  ideas  more  ex- 
alted, simply  because  of  the  influence  of  the  church  our 
ancestor.M  maintaine(l,  and  niir  inslruction  in  the  truth, 
which  for  us  they  ])erpetuated, 

A  minute  of  the  Consistory,  which  touehingly  por- 
trays th(^  Dominie's  love  for  his  wife,  and  his  desire  to 
make  li;iit])y  the  closing  years  of  her  life,  bears  date  Decem- 
ber llJth,  171>5.  Tt  contains  an  agreement  between  himself 
and  (he  Consistory,  Ihat  it  Mrs.  DuBois  should  survive 
him,  "  she  should  roniaiii  in  the  full  use  and  quiet  posses- 


49 

sion  of  the  parsonage  for  the  term  of  two  years."  The  ac- 
tion of  the  Consistory,  in  1817,  settled  an  annuity  of  $150 
upon  both  the  Dominie  and  his  wife,  tiie  benefit  of  which 
Mrs.  DuBois  enjoyed  until  96  years  of  age,  when  she 
peacefully  and  quietly  entered  the  home  on  high.  Her 
remains  were  interred  by  the  side  of  her  husband's  in 
front  of  the  church.* 

Mr.  DuBois  was  not  a  man  of  worldy  ambition,  but 
one  Avho  sought  to  glorify  God  and  be  faithful  to  his  trust. 
Retiring  and  modest,  he  lived  and  labored  among  his  own 
people.  But  little  is  known  of  his  public  life.  That  lit- 
tle, however,  is  not  without  interest.  On  the  7th  of  May, 
1771,  he  was  present  at  a  meeting  held  at  Hackensack, 
for  the  purpose  of  settling  the  location  of  Rutgers  College. 
Two  places  desired  the  distinction  and  honor,  Hacken- 
sack and  New  Brunswick.  By  a  small  majority  of  three, 
it  was  carried  in  tavor  of  New  Brunswick.  Mr.  DuBois 
voted  thus,  as  he  always  did,  with  the  party  of  progress, 
independence  and  liberty,  led  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob  R. 
Hardenbergh,  who  became  the  first  Presidenfof  the  col- 
lege, and  who  was  the  great-grand-father  of  your  present 
pastor.  To  me  it  is  not  the  least  of  the  precious  memo- 
ries of  the  past,  that  frequently  your  ancesters  and  mine 
labored  together,  as  we  are  laboring  together,  for  the  pro- 
motion of  God's  glory. 

In  1777,  Mr.  DuBois,  with  his  Elder,  Mr.  AartSutphin, 
was  present  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  of 
the  Reformed  Church  in  America;  and  subsequently 
with  the  Elder,  Mr.  Tunis  Denise,  signed  the  articles  of 
agreement  which  formed  the  Dutch  Churches  of  Ameri- 

*  The  tomb  of  Mrs.  DuBois    bears    tliis    inscription  :     "  In    memory    of 
Phebe  Denise,  relict  of  tlie  Rev.  Benjamin  DuBois,  wlio  departed  tbis    life 
January  7th,  1839,  aged  95  years,  4  months  and  26  days." 
"  0  could  this  tomb  her  fair  example  spread, 
And  teach  the  living,  while  it  praised  the  dead  ; 
Then,  reader,  should  it  speak  her  hope  divine, 
Not  to  record  her  faith  but  strengthen  thine; 
Then  should  her  christian  virtues  stand  confessed, 
And  kindle  christian  virtues  in  thy  breast." 


50 

ca  into  one  ecclesiastical  body,  June  18th,  1772.  At 
the  special  session  of  the  Synod  of  1786,  of  whicll  Synod 
Mr.  DuBois  was  clerk,  "  the  Reverend  Body  was  opened," 
we  are  told,  "  with  a  solemn  and  earnest  prayer  by  the  clerk, 
Rev.  Benjamin  DuBois;  the  president.  Dr.  Jacob  R.  Har- 
denbergh,  being  as  yet  absent." 

Fervent  piety,  ratlier  than  intellectual  ability,  was 
his  distinguishing  characteristic.  His  ministry  was  faith- 
ful and  successful,  his  sermons  sound,  evangelical  and 
practical,  his  preaching  scriptural,  his  zeal  for  his  work 
so  ardent,  that  he  kept  on  in  very  advanced  life,  un- 
til his  bodily  strength  would  no  longer  support  him  un- 
der its  exhausting  influence.  He  frequently  fainted  in 
the  pulpit.  In  person  he  was  of  medium  size,  with  pleas- 
ant features,  and  jet  black  eyes.  He  wore  small  clothes 
and  a  large  wig,  which  by  reason  of  long  use  had  turned 
from  white  to  yellow.  A  few  still  remember  his  appear- 
ance, the  large  spectacles  he  wore,*  and  his  solemn  man- 
ner of  entering  the  pulpit.  He  always  paused  at  the  foot 
of  the  pulpit  steps,  and  placing  his  hat  before  his  eyes, 
bowed  his  head  in  silent  prayer,  before  proceeding  to  take 
his  seat.  A  few  years  previous  to  the  close  of  his  life,  he 
removed  from  tlie  parsonage  to  reside  with  his  son-in- 
law,  Mr.  David  G.  Van  Der  Veer.  A  short  time  after, 
the  dwelling  was  burned,  and  all  the  books,  private  pa- 
pers and  letters,  together  with  the  furniture  belonging  to 
the  Dominie,  were  consumed,  a  loss  to  the  historian  and 
to  all  who  are  desirous  of  honoring  his  memory.  He  died 
August  21st,  1827,  thereby  receiving  the  iiiliillment  of 
the  promise,  "Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full  age, 
like  as  a  shock  of  corn  comcth  in  in  his  season."  He  was 
interred  immediately  in  front  of  the  church.  The  marble 
slab  on  his  tomb  bears  this  inscription  : 

*  The  s|»ectiicle.s  were  exhibited  to  tlie  audience-  The  glasses  are  set 
in  ivory,  so  discolored  from  nge  ns  to  look  like  box  wood.  They  are  per- 
fectly round,  seven-eighths  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  The  bows  are  steel,  very 
heavy  ;  each  glass,  with  tin-  ivory  rim  and  steel  bosv,  is  one  and  a  half 
inches  in  diameter. 


51 

"  In  memory  of  Rev.  Benjamin  DuBois,  who  departed  this  life  August 
21st,  1827,  aged  88  years,  4  montlis  and  11  days." 

"He  was  Pastor  of  the  United  Dutch  Church    of  Freehold  and    Mid- 
dletown  52  years. 

"  In    his    deportment    he   set    a  worthy  example  to  his  flock.     In  his 
preaching  he  was  sound,  faithful  and  affectionate. 

"  He  lived  in  peace,  in  peace  he  died. 
His  Master's  glory  near  his  heart. 
He  preached  of  Christ  and  none  beside, 
And  with  him  now  enjoys  his  part." 

His  funeral  services  were  very  largely  attended.  Rev. 
Samuel  A.  Van  Vranken  officiated  on  the  occasion,  tak- 
ing for  his  text,  St.  John  5  :  85.  "He  was  a  bright  and 
a  shining  light." 

The  Classis  of  New  Brunswick,  in  session  a  short  time 
after  his  decease,  when  informed  of  the  death  of  their 
aged  brother,  caused  the  following  minute  to  be  placed 
on  their  records  : 

"  The  Clasis,  sensible  of  the  worth  of  the  venerable  deceased,  Resolved 
to  record  this  testimonial  of  regard  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Benjumin 
DuBois,  and  they  hereby  assert  their  veneration  for  the  uniform  consis- 
tency of  his  walk  and  conversation,  and  the  uninterrupted  fidelity  with 
which  he  discharged  tke  duties  of  his  ministerial  office.  'Blessed  are  the 
dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.'  " 

In  1817  the  Classis  of  New  Brunswick,  in  answer  to 
an  application  from  the  Consistory  of  the  lieformed 
Church  of  Freehold  and  Middletown  for  ministerial  sup- 
plies, because  of  the  infirmities  of  their  pastor,  appointed 
three  young  men,  who  had  just  been  licensed,  to  occupy 
the  pulpit  ;  one  was  afterward  known  as  Rev.  Isaac  N. 
VVyckotf,  D.  D.,  for  many  years  pastor  of  the  Middle  Re- 
formed Church,  at  Albiiny.  Another  Avas  afterwards 
known  as  Rev.  John  Ludlow,  D.  D.,  L.  L.  D.,  Professor 
of  Hebrew,  Ecclesiastical  History,  -Church  Government 
and  Pastoral  Theology.  The  third  was  afterward  known 
as  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Van  Vranken,  D.  !>.,  Professor 
of  Didactic  Theology.  Each  of  the  young  men,  if  my 
information  is  correct,  discharged  the  duties  of  their  ap- 
pointment. If  that  was  the  case,  a  church  seldom  has 
such  a  brilliant  array  of  latent  talent  among  its  candi- 
dates. 


52 

The  minds  of  the  people  were  not  at  all  distracted. 
The  last  of  the  young  men  to  display  his  gifts,  was  Mr. 
Jolm  Ludlow,  who  occupied  the  pulpit,  it  is  said,  the 
second  Sabbath  of  August,  and  in  September  the  Consis- 
tory presented  a  call  to  the  Uqv.  Mr.  Van  Vranken.  Plis 
ordination  and  installation  as  pastor,  took  place  in  the 
Freehold  church,  the  first  Sabbath  of  April,  1818.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  John  L.  Zabriskie.  Revs. 
James  S.  Canon,  John  S.  Vredenbergh  and  Benjamin  Du 
Bois  delivering  the  charges  to  the  pastor  and  people,  and 
taking  part  in  the  devotional  exercises. 

The  occasion  was  one  of  the  deepest  interest.  More 
than  half  a  century  had  passed  away  since  the  congrega- 
tion had  assembled  for  a  similar  purpose.  As  the  newly 
installed  pastor  pronounced  the  benediction,  many  prayers 
ascended  on  high  for  the  perpetuity  and  prolongation  of 
the  relation  just  formed. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  church,  its  pastors  had 
resided  in  the  Freehold  congregation,  and  now,  as  the 
parsonage  at  Freehold  was  occupied  by  Mr.  DuBois,  the 
Middletown  people  desired  their  new  pastor  to  dwell 
among  them.  To  gratify  their  wishes,  the  Consistory  in- 
augurated measures  for  the  purchase  of  a  parsonage  at 
Middletown.  The  property  selected,  was  that  now  occn- 
pird  by  Rev.  Dr.  Reiley,  of  Holmdel.  There  Dr.  Van 
Vranken  commenced  house-keeping,  and  there  he  dwelt 
until  182G.  lie  was  born  at  Hopewell,  in  1790.  His  fa- 
ther was  Rev.  Nicholas  Van  Vranken,  the  principal  of 
a  flourishing  Academy,  which  proved  the  germ  of  Union 
College.  Uq  was  afterwards  pastor  of  the  Reformed 
churches  of  Fishkill,  Hopewell  and  Poughkeepsie.  It  is 
said,  that  one  day  he  was  surprised  by  having  an  Elder 
of  hia  church  greet  him  with  the  remark:  "Dominie,  I 
liear  that  a  great  woe  has  been  pronounced  against  you; 
u  woe  ujion  the  very  highest  authority  ;  '  woe  unto  the 
man  of  whom  all  speak  well.'  "  Samuel,  it  is  said,  re- 
sembled his  father.  He  graduated  from  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  New  Brunswick,  in  1817.     A   short  time  af- 


53 

ter,  he  married  Miss  Maria  Gaiisevoort,  of  Albany,  a  de- 
scendant of  Wessel  Gansevoort,  of  Gronnigen,  "  one  of 
the  Morning  tStars  of  the  Reformation  in  Holland."'  This 
lady  died  while  Mr.  Van  Vranken  was  pastor  of  this 
church.  Her  remains,*  with  those  of  her  children,  three 
in  number,  and  her  mother's,!  are  interred  in  the  adja- 
cent burying  ground.  Her  ancestors  were  among  the 
noblest  of  old  Holland's  sons,  prominent  actors  in  events 
whose  influence  is  still  felt  throughout  Christendom. 

Dr.  Van  Vranken  was  again  married  twice.  First  to 
a  Miss  Swift,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  then  to  Mrs.  Mary 
Boulden,  of  Delaware,  who  still  survives  him,  honored 
and  esteemed  by  her  acquaintances  and  friends,  because 
of  her  estimable  christian  character,  deeply  attached  to 
this,  the  church  of  her  husband's  first  service,  and  present 
with  us  to-day,  to  review  the  past,  and  to  rejoice  with  us, 
because  of  the  Lord's  goodness  and  mercy. 

In  1834,  after  a  pastorate  of  16  years.  Dr.  Van  Vran- 
ken accepted  a  call  to  the  First  lieformed  Church  of 
Poughkeepsie.  Here  he  remained  about  three  years, 
when  he  removed  to  IS^'ew  York  and  became  pastor  of  the 
Broome  street  congregation,  from  which  position  he  was 
called  in  1841,  by  the  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  to  occupy  the  chair  of  Didactic' Theology,  in  the 
Seminary  at  Kew  Brunswick.  This  position  he  filled 
with  credit  to  himself,  and  honor  to  the  church,  until  the 
day  of  his  death,  January  1st,  1861.  I  was  then  a  student 
at  College,  and  well  remember  the  last  sermon  he  ever 
preached.  His  text,  as  if  he  had  received  intimation  of 
deatli's  approach,  was  the  16th  verse  of  the  7th  chapter  of 
Job,  "  I  would  not  live  alway."     The  sermon  was  full  of 

*  Mrs.  Van  Vranken's  tomb  bears  this  inscription  :  "In  memory  of  Ma- 
ria Gansevoort,  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Van  Vranken,  who  died  June  19th, 
1831,  in  the  35th  year, of  her  age." 

f  This  lady's  tomb  bears  this  inscription  :  »  In  memory  of  Elizabeth 
Roseboom,  relict  of  the  late  Conrad  Gansevoort,  of  Albany.  Died  Jan- 
uary 11th,  1850,  aged  81  years,  17  days.  Her  holy  virtues  are  sacred 
memorials,  embalmed  in  the  hearts  ofher  children,  who  rise  up  and  call 
her  blessed." 


54 

expressions  setting  forth  the  grand  and  glorious  hopes 
which  make  peaceful  and  joyous  our  advance  to  the  tomb. 
It  seemed  to  be  the  breathing  forth  of  the  ardent  long- 
ings of  the  speaker's  heart,  to  be  at  home  with  Jesus  : 
and  made  one  sigh  for  the  same  strong  and  precious  faith. 

As  his  character  has  been  portrayed  by  abler  pens 
than  mine,  I  will  not  mar  the  good  work  they  have  done. 
A  few  extracts  from  that  which  others  have  written,  will 
be  sufficient  to  indicate  the  noble  type  of  his  manhood. 

"  Ilis  personal  presence  was  imposing.  His  voice 
rang  out  freely  and  clearly.  The  grasp  of  his  hand  was 
animating,  llis  eye  rested  confidently  upon  you,  and 
when  he  spoke,  you  saw  plainly  that  he  was  a  man  of  a 
frank  and  open  disposition.  In  early  life  he  preached 
Memoriter.  Every  sermon  was  profitable.  At  commun- 
ion seasons,  in  the  prayer  meeting,  and  often  in  social  in- 
tercourse, when  he  related  some  striking  instance  in 
which  the  power  of  divine  grace  had  been  sweetlj'  and 
kindly  manifested,  his  huge  frame  would  quiver,  his  utter- 
ance become  choked,  and  his  cheeks  wet  with  tears."  In 
a  word,  "  he  was  a  highly  intelligent,  noble,  christian  gen- 
tleman." It  is  said,  he  never  lost  a  friend.  So  long  as 
he  lived  the  officers  of  this  church  were  accustomed  to  con- 
sult him  and  seek  his  advice,  assured  that  their  interests 
were  dear  to  his  heart.  After  his  death  they  testified 
their  appreciation  of  his  character  by  [)lacing  on  record  a 
minute,  ju-cpared  by  Mr.  William  Spader,  who  at  that 
time,  and  for  many  years,  was  the  clerk  of  the  Consistory. 
This  minute  says  : 

<'  Wc  remember,  with  gratitude  to  God,  that  this  eminent  minister  of 
Christ  was  ordained  to  the  sacred  office,  and  commenced  his  long  and 
useful  career,  in  this  church.  He  enjoyed,  in  a  remarkable  degree,  the  re- 
spect and  all'ections  of  the  people  of  Monmouth  county,  and,  although 
many  years  have  elapsed  since  his  separation  (rora  them,  their  early  attach- 
ment has  not  been  diminished.  We  recognize,  even  at  this  distant  day, 
the  vigor  and  evangelical  character  of  his  mitiistry,  in  the  prevalence  of 
sound  doctrinal  views,  and  the  growth  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in 
this  community.  As  a  further  expression  of  our  grateful  remembrance  of 
the  honored  pastor  and  professor,  it  is :  Resolved,  by  this  Consistory,  to 
obtain  a  portrait  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Van  Vranken,  to  be  presented  to  the  Gen- 


55 

eral  Synod,  with  a  request  that  it  may  be  permitted  to  hang  in  the  Chapel 
of  the  '  Peter  Hertzog  Theological  Seminar^-.'  " 

The  portrait  thus  procured  may  be  seen  in  the  James 
Suj'dam  Hall,  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  at  New  Bruns- 
wick.    A  worthy  tribute  to  the  memory  of  a  worthy  man. 

In  1825,  seven  years  after  Mr.  Van  Vranken's  instal- 
lation, the  Consistory  petitioned  the  Classis  of  i^ew 
Brunswick  to  organize  two  churches  out  of  the  church 
they  represented.  The  causes  which  led  to  such  a  request 
were  the  great  extent  of  the  congregation,  and  the  dis- 
tance which  many  were  compelled  to  travel  every  other 
Sabbath  to  enjoy  divine  worship.  There  were  twenty- 
seven  gates  between  the  house  of  Mr.  Uriah  Smock,  near 
the  village  of  Marlborough,  and  the  church  at  Middletown, 
to.  be  opened  and  shut,  both  in  going  to  and  returning 
from  church.  Many  other  residences  were  shut  in  in  like 
manner.  And  now,  the  imperative  necessity  of  a  new 
house  of  worship  at  Freehold,  the  location  of  which  had 
occasioned  considerable  feeling,  and  disturbed  to  some  ex- 
tent the  peace  of  the  congregation,  brought  on  the  issue, 
shall  we  continue  under  one  pastorate  or  become  two  dis- 
tinct churches. 

Dr.  Van  Vranken  desired  to  build  one  large  church 
in  the  center  of  the  two  congregations,  to  take  the  place 
of  the  two  houses  of  worship  in  which  he  was  then  preach- 
ing on  alternate  Sabbaths,  He  wished  to  concentrate  his 
forces  and  move  upon  the  enemy  with  a  solid  army  in- 
stead of  separate  squadrons.  The  people  were  divided 
in  opinion.  The  Classis  appointed  a  committee  to 
investigate  the  matter,  possessing  talent  enough  to  set- 
tle the  gravest  questions  of  State.  Its  chairman  was 
Rev.  James  S.  Canon.  Associated  with  him  were  Revs. 
John  L.  Zabriskie  and  James  B.  Hardenbergh,  and 
the  Elders,  John  Frelingliuysen,  of  Somerville,  and  Jacob 
R.  Hardenbergh,  of  New  Brunswick,  This  committee, 
after  holding  divine  service  in  the  church  at  Middletown, 
met  with  a  committee  appointed  by  the  two  congregations, 
to  present  their  views,  and  then  conferred  with  other  pro- 


56 

rnineiit  and  intiuentiul  ones  who  chanced  to  be  present. 
Tlie  meeting  was  harmonious,  and  with  one  mind  desired 
the  division  of  the  congreijation,  believing  it  would  tend  to 
the  enlargement  of"  each  of  the  congregations,  and  be  the 
means  also  of  making  friendship  therein.  Dr.  Canon  re- 
commended the  formation  of  the  two  congregations,  ac- 
cording to  tlie  requirements  of  the  Church  Constitution. 
The  Classis  adopted  Ids  recommendation,  and  also,  with 
others,  the  following  resolution  :  "'That  the  line  which 
divides  the  township  of  Freehold  from  the  township 
of  Middletown  be  recommended  to  be  the  line  of  divi- 
sion, for  the  present,  between  the  the  congregations  of 
Freehold  and  Middletown,  when  formed."  By  this  ac- 
tion of  the  Classis,  the  united  congregations  of  Freehold 
and  Middletown,  which  for  nearly  a  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  years  had  enjo^'ed  the  labors  of  the  same  pastors,  had 
mingled  their  voices  in  the  worship  of  God,  had  conse- 
crated their  children  to  the  Lord  at  the  same  baptismal 
font,  and  had  gathered  about  the  same  communion  table, 
mutual  sharers  in  eacli  others  hopes  and  fears  and  pros- 
perit}',  was  severed  in  twain,  November  28th,  1825,  the 
larger  portion  becoming  the  First  Reformed  Church  of 
Freehold,  tlie  other  the  Reformed  Church  of  Aliddletown, 
wliich  has  since  been  incorporated  the  Reformed  Church 
ot  Holmdel. 

Henceforth  their  history  flows  in  two  distinct  and 
separate  channels.  I  propose  to  trace  the  course  *of  only 
the  main  branch  of  the  divided  stream,  the  First  Re- 
formed Cliurch  of  Freehold.  Eighty  families  and  sixty- 
eight  communicants  were  represejited  by  tliis  corporate 
title.  The  Consistory  was  composed  of  three  Elders  and 
tiiree  Deacons.  Garret  Wyckoff,  Daniel  I.  Schenck 
and  Aaron  Smock  were  the  Elders ;  Joseph  Van  Cleef, 
Denise  Sclienck  and  Garret  G.  Conover  were  the  Deacons. 

The  first  act  of  the  Consistory  was  to  extend  a  call  to 
the  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Van  Vranken,  to  become  their  pas- 
tor. It  was  accepted  at  once,  and  Mr.  Van  Vranken's  re- 
hition  to  the  "United  Congregation  of  Freehold  and  Mid- 


57 

dletown,"  dissolved  by  Classis  April  19th,  1826.  On  Sun- 
day, the  22d  of  the  previous  January,  he  had  preached  a 
farewell  sermon  to  the  Middletown  congre*yation,  and  va- 
cating their  parsonage,  had  moved  within  the  bounds  of 
the  Freehold  congregation,  April  11th.  .Mr.  Van  Vran- 
ken  was  a  very  popular  preacher,  and  his  great  populari- 
ty as  a  pulpit  orator  caused  the  Classis,  when  dissolving 
liis  pastoral  relation  with  tlie  United  Congregations,  and 
approving  the  call  of  the  First  Church  of  Freehold,  to 
adopt  tlie  useless  and  impracticable  resolution,  "  that  it 
be  enjoined  upon  the  Consistories  of  Freehold  and  Mid- 
dletown, so  soon  as  may  be  convenient,  to  take  the  late 
recommendation  of  Classis  in  regard  to  a  division  line 
between  the  two  congregations,  into  their  serious  consid- 
eration." It  was  never  convenient.  The  Consistories 
were  wiser  than  the  Classis.  No  body  of  men  can  dictate 
the  place  where  christian  families  shall  worship.  Con- 
venience, inclination  or  preference,  will  invariably  deter- 
mine church  relations.  Arrangements  were  made,  but, 
never  perfected,  for  tlie  installation  of  Mr.  Van  Vranken 
at  the  Freehold  church,  on  the  third  Sabbath  of  July.  A 
question  was  raised  in  relation  to  the  necessity  of  installa- 
tion services.  As  Mr.  Van  Vranken  had  already  been  in- 
stalled the  pastor  of  the  same  people  wlio  now  called  him 
again,  and  had  never  vacated  the  pulpit  he  occupied,  it 
seemed  to  many  a  superfluous  thing  to  have  him  re-in- 
stalled. It  took  the  Classis  two  full  years  to  decide  the 
matter.  The  letter  of  the  law  was  obeyed,  and  formal 
installation  services  were  held  A.pril  16th,  1828.  The 
Rev.  .James  Romeyn  preached  the  sermon.  The  Rev. 
James  B.  Hardenbergh  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pas- 
tor, and  the  Rev.  J.  Tenbrooke  Beekraan  the  charge  to 
the  people. 

The  settlement  of  the  affairs  of  the  two  congrega- 
tions was  pushed  forward  with  energy.  At  a  meeting, 
held  the  2d  day  of  January,  1826,  it  was  unanimously 
agreed,  "•  that  the  church  edifice,  and  grounds  adjacent 
thereto,  should  be   considered    the   exclusive  property  of 


58 

the  congregation  worshiping  therein  ;  that  all  the  other 
property,  whether  real  or  personal,  belonging  to  the  cor- 
poration of  the  United  Congregations  at  the  time  of  their 
separation,  should  be  equally  divided  between  the  two, 
the  one  moiety,  or  half,  to  each  ;  that  all  monies  in  hand, 
at  the  time  of  their  separation,  or  thereafter  to  be  collect- 
ed, shall  be  equally  divided,  whether  arising  from  sub. 
scriptions,  bonds,  notes  or  otherwise,  and  that  all  debts 
shall  be  equally  borne  by  each,  and  paid  previous  to  any 
division  of  the  property."  A  fairer  settlement  could  not 
be  adjusted.  Its  realization  was  attended  with  difficulties. 
Ill  feeling  was  engendered,  bitter  words  were  spoken,  and 
the  peace  of  the  two  congregations  greatly  disturbed. 
The  storm  soon  passed  by  ;  the  final  settlement  between 
the  congregations  taking  place  May  6th,  1826.  At  this 
settlement  the  Consistory  of  this  churcli  received  $2,555. 
They  were  the  possessors,  also,  of  $2,500  received  from  the 
estate  of  Tunis  G.  Van  Der  Veer,  of  blessed  memory.  They 
also  had  ^8,750,  the  half  of  the  sum  received  from  the  sale 
of  the  parsonage  farm  ;  making  a  total  of  $8,805,  with 
which  to  commence  their  independent  career. 

The  only  real  estate  of  which  they  were  possessed, 
was  the  land  adjacent  to  an  old  church,  so  thoroughly  out 
of  repair  that  the  building  of  a  new  one  was  an  impera- 
tive necessity.  They  had  no  parsonage,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose purchased  the  small  farm  of  al)Out  18  acres,  in  the 
south-western  portion  of  the  congregation,  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  Mr.  Daniel  Van  Mater.  There  the  pas- 
tors of  tliis  church  resided  for  nearly  forty  years.  When 
the  property  was  purchased  it  cost  the  congregation 
$3,766. 

Early  in  the  Spring  of  1826,  measures  were  inaugu- 
rated for  securing  a  new  church.  There  was  considerable 
difficulty  in  determining  its  location.  Some  of  the  con- 
gregation desired  to  have  it  built  on  Hendrickson's  Hill, 
the  place  already  mentioned  as  the  site  of  the  first  Re- 
formed church  in  Monmouth  count}-.  But  in  April  the 
Consistoi'v  uiiHuimonslv  resolved  to  erect  a  new   house  of 


59 

worship  "on  the  site  of  the  present  church."  They  also 
determined  that  the  building  should  be  45  ft.  wide  and  55 
ft.  long,  and  that  it  should  be  of  brick,  with  a  steeple  and 
a  gallery.  Mr.  James  I.  Baird  and  Mr.  Garret  H.  Smock 
were  appointed  a  building  committee,  subject  to  the  di- 
rection of  the  Consistory. 

On   Sunday,    the   4th    of  June,    Mr,    Van    Vranken 
preached  a  farewell   sermon   to  the  old   building,   which 
since  1732,  a  period  of  94  years,    had    echoed    with    the 
praises  of  Almighty    God,    and    to    many   was    endeared 
above  all  the  places  of  earth.      After  the  old  building   was 
taken  down,  and  while  the  new  one  was  in  course  of  erec- 
tion, Mr.  Van  Vranken  preached  at  the   Court  House,  in 
Freehold  village,  and  also  in  the  vicinity  of  Colts  ^eck, 
sometimes  at  Mr.  Statesir's,  and  frequently  in   a  barn    on 
the  old  Stoutenbergh  fiirm,  the  property   now   owned   by 
Mr.  Kyall.     The  work  on    the  new   church   was    pushed 
forward  with  energy  and  zeal.     So  far  as  practicable  the 
materials  of  the  old  building  were   used   in   the   construc- 
tion of  the  new.     A  well  was  dug,  not  far  from  the    road, 
in  the  present  church  yard,  to  supply  the  necessary  water. 
This  well  remained  many  years  after  the  church   was   fin- 
ished.    A  shed  for  cooking  purposes  was  put  up,   on   the 
church  grounds,  not  far  from  the  building,  that  the  labor- 
ers might  be  boarded,  and   much  expense  saved.*     The 
bricks    were    made    and    burnt    on    the  farm    now   oc- 
cupied   by    Mr.    John     H.    Van    Mater,    adjoining    the 
church  property.     Captain  Isaac  Herbert,  who  was  learn- 
ing his  trade  with  Mr.  James  Thompson,  the  blacksmitli, 
on  whose  anvil  all   the   necessary    iron    fixtures   for   tlie 
church  were  wrought,  carted  the  first  load   of  sand,  with 
an  ox  team.     The  day   was   very   warm,   and  one  of  tlie 
oxen,  when  returning  home,  fell  dead  in   the  road.     The 
greater  part  of  the  carting  was  done  by  Joseph  Van  Der 
Veer,  who,  when  I  moved  into  the  parsonage,  came  to  bid 

*  There  were  present  at  our  memorial  services  two  of  those  who  were 
employed  in  the  construction  of  the  building— Mr.  John  W.  Van  Cleef 
carpenter,  and  Mr.  Thomas  J.  Smith,  mason. 


60 


me  welcome,  saying  he  had  welcomed  Dominie  Van 
Vranken,  and  eyerj  minister  since  his  day,  to  their  home 
in  the  parsonage.  May  those  whom  he  has  thus  wel- 
comed rejoice  with  him  in  the  heavenly  home. 

While  the  church  was  being  built,  the  bridge  across 
Hop  Brook,  on  the  main  road  between  Freehold  and 
Matawan,  was  carried  away  by  a  storm  ;  a  fact  of  interest 
only  because  the  bridge  on  the  same  road  and  across  the 
same  stream,  since  preparations  were  commenced  for  these 
memorial  services,  has  shared  the  same  fate. 

The  corner  stone  of  the  new  building  was  laid  some 
time  in  July,  and  the  building  was  completed  the  follow- 
ing year.  Tlie  marble  tablet  in  the  front  of  the  building, 
was  the  gift  of  Mr.  Hull,  a  stone  cutter  at  Matawan.  It 
bears  this  inscription  : 


Reformed  Dutch  Church. 

Erected  A.  D.   1826. 

"  Keep  thy  foot  when  thou  goest  to  the  house  of  God, 
and  be  more  ready  to  hear,  tlian  to  give  the    SHerifice    of    i 
fools.     Eccle.  5  :  1." 


The  first  religious  services  held  within  the  walls  of 
the  new  church  were  the  funeral  ceremonies  of  the  Rev, 
Benjamin  DnBois,  August  23d. 

The  building  cost  about  $10,000;  rather  more  than 
less.  Its  appearance,  when  completed,  differed  within, 
from  its  appearance  at  present.  The  pulpit  was  higher. 
Back  of  the  pulpit  there  was  a  window,  and  above  the 
window  a  gilded  dove.  The  Elders'  and  Deacons'  seats, 
and  other  pews  tilling  up  the  space,  were  each  side  of  the 
pulpit  where  the  stoves  now  stand.  The  change  was 
made  in  1853,  through  a  committee  of  which  Mr.  Uriah 
Smock  was  chairman.  No  other  material  alterations  have 
been  made. 

The  buildini'-  was  solemnly   dedicated  to  the   service 


61 

of  the  Triune  Jehovah,  by  the  pastor,  Sunday,  the  9th  day 
of  September,  1827.  The  pastor  also  preached  a  sermon 
suitable  to  the  occasion,  taking  his  text :  Psalm  132:  8,  9. 
"  Arise,  O  Lord,  into  Thy  rest.  Thou  and  the  ark  of  Thy 
strength.  Let  Th^-  priests  be  clothed  with  righteousness, 
and  let  Thy  saints  shout  for  joy."  The  occasion  was  one 
of  rejoicing  and  gladness.  In  answer  to  the  pastor's  prayer 
the  Lord  chose  the  new  building  as  the  place  of  His  abode 
Here  for  fifty  years  He  has  met  with  His  people.  His 
presence  has  sanctified  and  hallowed  these  walls,  and  His 
spirit  has  carried  the  joys  of  salvation  to  penitent  hearts. 
God  lias  dwelt  here,  making  this  house,  through  the  in- 
strumentalit}^  of  its  iioly  services,  like  unto  the  river  of 
which  the  Psahnist  sings,  "  the  streams  thereof  make  glad 
the  city  of  God."  Oh  !  the  rt;joieing  before  the  throne  on 
high  ;  who  can  describe  it,  because  of  the  souls  liere  born 
again  ?  We  have  heard  its  echo  ;  we  liope,  bye  and  bj'e, 
to  join  the  chorus.  What  a  grand  siglit  it  would  be,  if  all 
who  have  here  confessed  Christ  before  men,  were  assem- 
bled together.  What  a  shout  of  thankso-ivinof  would  cro 
up  to  lieaven  from  pastors  and  people,  from  parents  and 
children  and  children's  children.  Ah,  indeed,  as  we  have 
festooned  these  walls  to-day  Avith  evergreen  boughs,  even 
so  are  they  festooned  with  sacred  memories  in  many  hearts 
now  rejoicing  in  glory. 

Only  two  of  those  who  formed  the  membership  of 
the  church  when  this  building  was  dedicated  are  in  the 
communion  of  the  church  to-day  :  the  aged  widow  of  Mr. 
Elias  Brewer,  Sr.,  long  since  deceased,  and  the  Rev.  Gar- 
ret C.  Schenck.  But  thanks  be  unto  God,  if  the  fathers 
have  fallen  in  the  -'good  tight  of  faith,"  their  children, 
and  children's  children  have  rallied  around  the  cross,  and 
stand  to-day,  maintaining  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and 
perpetuating  the  institutions  of  our  holy  religion  for  those 
who  are  to  come. 

When  the  church  was  dedicated,  an  original  anthem, 
and  an  original  hymn,  prepared  for  the  occasion,  were 
sung  by  the  choir.     They  are  said  to  have  been  the  com- 


62 

position  of  Dr.  Van  Vranken,  They  have  been  repeated 
here  to-day,  that  so  far  as  possible,  Ave  miglit  link  the  past 
with  the  present.  The  singing  was  led  by  Mr.  Garret  H. 
Smock,  deceased.  Among  those  who  assisted  him  were 
Mr.  John  Conover,  Mr.  Garret  8.  Smock,  deceased  ;  Mrs. 
Sydney  Schenck,  Mrs.  Benjamin  DuBois,  Mrs.  John  Hen- 
ry Van  Der  Veer,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  DuBois,  Mrs.  Jacob 
Probasco,  Mr.  Aaron  Smock,  deceased;  Miss  Phoebe 
Van  Der  Veer,  and  Mr.  Daniel  Polhernus  Smock,  who 
afterwards  for  many  years  was  the  church  chorister.  I 
have  seen  in  his  possession  a  large  bible  bearing  the  in- 
scription :  "  Presented  to  Daniel  P.  Smock  by  the  Ladies' 
Society  of  the  First  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Freehold, 
N.  J.,  asa  token  of  christian  regard  and  appreciation  of  long 
continued  services,  August  16th,  1S^6."  I  also  find  a 
minute  of  the  Consistory,  made  in  1863,  granting  Mr. 
Smock  a  family  plot  in  the  church  cemetery,  "as  a  token 
of  appreciation  of  his  long,  faithful  and  gratuitous  servi- 
ces as  chorister  of  the  church."  At  the  dedication  ot  the 
church  the  singing  was  without  the  aid  of  an  organ.  The 
chorister  in  those  days  pitched  the  ke}'  note  witli  a  tuning 
fork,  and  the  congregation  were  not  afraid  to  join  in.  It 
was  such  music  as  stirred  the  soul  of  Burns  to  say: 

"  They  chant  their  artless  notes  in  semple  guise,     ' 
They  tune  their  hearts  by  far  the  noltlest  aim, 

Perhaps  Dundee's  wild  warbling  measures  rise, 
Or  plaintive  martyrs  wnrtliy  of  the  name — 
Or  noble  Elgin  beats  the  heavenward  tlame. 

"  Compared  with  these  Italian  trills  are  tame — 

The  tickled  ears  no  heart-fell  raptures  raise, 
No  unison  h.we  they  with  our  creator's  praise." 

After  a  few  years,  a  base  viol  and  violin  Avere  used  in 
the  choir.  In  1853  the  first  reed  instrument  Avas  pur- 
chased. It  was  a  small  piano-cased  melodeon.  Mrs.  J. 
Conover  Smock  was  called  to  preside  at  the  instrument, 
and  thus   became  the  first  ors^anist  of  the  church.*     Mr. 


*   See   Appendix  E. 


83 

Van  Yranken  continued  to  occupy  the  pulpit  of  the  new 
church  for  about  seven  years.  In  July,  1834,  he  received 
a  call  from  the  Reformed  church  of  Poughkeepsie,  and 
liis  pastoral  relation  with  this  people  was  dissolved  by 
the  action  of  Classis,  the  28d  of  that  month.  His  ministry 
was  one  of  abundant  blessing.  We  can  only  estimate  its 
results  by  its  lasting  effects.  There  is  no  record  of  com- 
municants covering  tliis  period,  but  during  the  eight 
years  of  his  pastorate,  immediately  following  the  separa- 
tion of  the  congregation,  the  80  families  and  68  commu- 
nicants with  which  the  first  church  of  Freehold  com- 
menced its  independent  existence,  became  130  families 
and  159  communicants. 

The  Rev.  James  Otterson  was  Mr.  Van  Vranken's 
successor.  He  was  formally  installed  the  first  Wednes- 
day of  January,  1885.  Dr.  Messier,  of  Somerville, 
preached  the  sermon.  The  charge  to  the  pastor  was  de- 
livered b}'  Dr.  Howe,  of  Xew  Brunswick,  and  that  to  the 
people  by  Dr.  Sears,  of  Six-Mile-Run.  The  relation  thus 
formed  was  of  short  duration.  It  was  dissolved  Xovem- 
ber  liTth,  1838. 

Mr.  Otterson  was  born  of  Scotish  ancestry,  in  the  city 
of  Xew  York,  October  llth,  1791.  He  was  brought  up 
in  the  Associate  Reformed  church.  He  graduated  at 
Columbia  College,  having  entered  that  institution  at 
about  eleven  years  of  age.  He  studied  theology  with  Dr. 
Mason,  and  was  ordained  to  the  Gospel  ministry  in  1821. 
When  called  to  the  pastorate  of  this  church  he  was  in  the 
prime  of  life.  He  had  been  pastor  of  the  Associate  Re- 
formed church  of  Broadalbin,  in  Fulton  county,  N.  Y. , 
and  of  the  United  Reformed  Dutch  churches  of  Hemp- 
stead and  Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island.  After  his  settlement 
here,  he  took  charge  of  the  church  at  White  House,  Hun- 
terdon county,  and  then  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Johnstown,  X.  Y.  His  last  charge  was  in  Wilmington, 
in  the  State  of  Delaware.  He  was  too  deep  a  thinker  to 
be  a  popular  preacher,  in  the  usual  acceptation  of  the 
term.     His  sermons  were  frequently  beyond  the  reach   of 


64 

ordinary  con.^regatioiis.  His  intellect  was  vigorous,  his 
habits  scholarly,  his  mind  clear  and  anylitical.  Oaretul 
in  his  pulpit  preparation,  he  ever  caused  you  to  feel  that 
he  was  master  of  the  situation,  whatever  the  subject  of 
discussion,  knowing  what  he  atiirmed,  and  the  conclusion 
he  was  to  reach.  Some  who  remember  him  speak  of  him 
as  a  remarkable  minister,  a  splendid  sermonizer,  a  learn- 
ed theologian,  a  very  instructive  and  edilying  teacher. 
His  speech  flowed  smoothly  from  his  lips,  and  his  appeals 
to  the  heart  and  conscience  were  often  very  eloquent.  He 
was  a  tine  elocutionist,  often  stirring  the  heart's  depths  by 
his  impressive  manner  in  reading  a  hymn,  or  the  pathetic 
portions  of  Scripture.  In  ecclesiastical  assemblies,  he 
had  few  superiors,  and  not  matiy  equals.  He  was  strick- 
en with  paralysis,  and  died  at  the  residence  of  his  name- 
sake son  in  Philadelphia,  September  17th,  18H7. 

To  succeed  Mr.  Otterson,  the  Consistory  called  the 
Rev.  Aaron  A.  Marcellus  in  1839.  He  was  installed  the 
last  Wednesday  of  May.  On  this  occasion  the  Rev.  Jas. 
K.  Campbell,  of  North  Branch,  [>reached  the  sermon. 
The  Rev.  J.  Tenbrooke  Beekman  delivered  the  charge  to 
the  pastor,  and  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Sears  the  charge  to  the 
people, 

Mr.  Marcellus  was  born  at  Amsterdam,  New  York, 
in  1799.  His  ancestors  were  Dutch.  He  graduated  from 
Union  College  in  1826,  from  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Xow  Brunswick  in  1880,  and  the  same  year  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  (4ospel  by  the  (Massis  of  New  York.  His 
first  settlement  was  as  pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  at 
Lysander,  X.  Y.  In  1831  he  removed  to  Sehaghticoke. 
Ln  1834  to  .Manhatteti.  En  1836  he  became  principal  of 
the  Lancaster  Academy,  which  position  he  resigned  in 
1839,  to  take  charge  of  this  churcli.  This  was  by  far  his 
longest  pastorate,  extending  over  a  period  of  12  years.  In 
1851  he  resigned  his  call  and  commenced  teaching  in 
New  York  city.  In  1856  he  assumed  the  pastorate  of  the 
church  at  <  Jrocnvilh',  hut  aft«M'  a  ministrv    of  about    three 


65 

years,  commenced  teaching  at  Bergen,  where  he  died 
in  1860. 

Mr.  Marcellus  was  an  unpretentious  and  unassuming 
man.  Every  place  wliere  he  ministered  bears  testimony 
to  the  fact  that  he  was  a  faithful  ambassador  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  In  preaching  he  did  not  seek  his  own  glory, 
but  endeavored  to  hold  up  Christ  as  the  sinner's  only 
hope,  rather  than  charm  the  ears  of  his  auditors  with 
bursts  of  eloquence  or  rhetorical  display.  He  is  said  to 
have  been  especially  gifted  in  prayer.  When  leading  the 
devotions  of  the  people,  he  seemed  to  have  an  unction 
from  the  Holy  One.  His  personal  trials  and  difficulties 
were  many,  but  he  found  the  grace  of  the  Saviour,  whose 
love  he  proclaimed,  sufficient  for  him,  and  amid  the  many 
vicissitudes  of  life,  was  ever  a  cheerful  and  happy  man. 

He  sought  for  souls  and  won  them  for  Christ.  Many 
who  for  years  have  been  the  most  active  in  promoting  the 
church's  interests,  made  a  profession  of  their  faith  during 
his  ministry.  At  one  time  twenty-four  united  with  the 
church  by  confessing  Christ.  This  was  the  most  exten- 
sive revival  the  church  has  ever  enjoyed,  excepting  per- 
haps the  precious  season  of  the  Spirit's  presence  and  power 
in  the  Winter  and  Spring  of  1876,  which  we  all  remem- 
ber so  well,  when  23  confessed  Christ  at  one  time.  In 
1840  the  membership  of  the  church  wasuncreased  by  the 
reception  of  40  persons,  39  of  whom  were  received  on 
confession.  This  is  the  largest  accession  we  have  ever 
been  privileged  to  report  to  Classis. 

In  1885  the  rapid  growth  of  the  village  of  Freehold, 
and  the  large  number  of  tlie  families  of  the  congregation 
residing  in  its  vicinity,  caused  the  Consistory  to  purchase 
a  lot  in  tlie  village,  from  Mr.  Cj'rus  Bruen,  and  to  com- 
mence the  erection  thereon  of  a  house  of  worship.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  witli  appropriate  ceremonies  bj'  the 
Rev.  James  Otterson,  in  the  Spring  of  1836,  but  when 
the  frame  was  raised  and  partly  enclosed,  work  was  sus- 
pended for  want  of  funds.  The  building  remained  in  this 
untinished  condition  for  nearlv   two   vears.     The   Consis- 


66 

tory  thought  of  abandoning  the  enterprise,  and  would 
have  done  so,  it  is  said,  but  for  the  earnest  protest  of  Mrs. 
John  H.  Smock.  When  her  liusband  rehited  the  views 
of  the  Consistory,  she  shook  her  head  and  made  reply, 
saying  :  "  No,  John  ;  no.  That  church  ought  to  be  fin- 
ished and  must  be  finished."  Mr.  Smock  was  of  the  same 
opinion,  (a  wise  man  always  agrees  with  his  wife.)  He 
started  a  subscription,  advanced  money,  and  pushed  the 
work  forward  with  such  success  that  the  completed  build- 
ing was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  Triune  Jehovah  by 
the  Rev.  James  Otterson,  February  1st,  1838.  It  cost  the 
congregation,  exclusive  of  the  lot,  about  $5,000.  Its  pos- 
session was  the  cause  of  mucli  anxiety  and  trouble.  It 
involved  the  congregation  in  debt  for  many  j-ears,  and 
gave  birth  to  much  feeling  in  relation  to  the  amount  of 
service  there  to  be  rendered  by  the  pastor. 

At  one  time  an  attempt  was  made  to  again  consoli- 
date the  Freehold  and  Middletown  congregations,  and 
call  two  pastors  for  the  three  pulpits.  When  Mr.  Mar- 
cellus  was  called,  in  1839,  it  was  stipulated  that  he  should 
preach  twice  on  the  Sabbath — in  the  Brick  Church  in  the 
forenoon,  and  in  the  church  in  the  village  of  Freehold  in 
the  afternoon.  But  this  arrangement  soon  proved  very 
nnsatistactory  to  the  village  people.  Thev  naturally"  de- 
sired a  morning  service,  and  finally  resolved  to  organize 
the  Second  Reformed  Church  of  Freehold.  Mr.  Eben- 
ezer  Conover  and  Mr.  David  Buck  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  petition  Classis,  and  the  church  was  organized 
the  first  Tuesday  in  October,  1842.  The  church  was 
formed  almost  entirely  from  tliis  congregation,  and  they 
at  once  requested  a  full  warranty  deed  for  the  church 
property  in  the  village.  The  Consistory  refused  to  grant 
their  request,  because  those  still  remaining  in  tlie  Brick 
Church  congregation  had  expended  at  least  $3,500  in  the 
erection  of  the  building,  and  the  congregation  liaving 
been  weakened  in  their  ability  to  support  a  pastor,  did 
not  feel  able  to  present  the  new  congregaliDn  with  a  house 
of  worship.      But  dvsirous  of  en<K)nraging  the    enterprise. 


67 

they  offered  to  give  them  a  clear  title  for  $1,500.  This 
generous  ofter  was  not  accepted.  They  then  offered  the 
church  for  $1,000,  but  even  tliis  magnanimous  offer  was 
rejected  ;  and  so,  finally,  in  1846,  four  years  after  their 
organization,  the  village  congregation  offered  this  Consis- 
tory $750  for  the  village  church.  The  offer  was  accepted, 
and  thus  was  consummated  the  cheapest  transfer  of  real 
estate  the  county  clerk  has  ever  recorded. 

Bat  the  Lord  knows  how  to  provide  for  the  changes 
which  time  works  in  communities.  The  ministry  of  Mr, 
Marcellus  was  very  greatly  blessed,  so  that,  although  a 
church  had  been  formed  out  of  the  congregation,  he  had 
the  satisfaction  of  seeing  their  places  more  than  filled. 
When  commencing  his  ministry,  the  membership  of  the 
church  was  187.  When  the  pastoral  relation  was  dis- 
solved it  was  181.  To  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Marcellus,  two 
important  institutions  of  the  church  owe  their  origin — 
the  Sabbath  school  and  the  week-day  prayer  meeting. 
The  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1840.  It  was  held, 
for  want  of  a  better  place,  in  the  gallery  of  the  church, 
and  there  it  has  ever  since  convened.  It  is  known  as 
the  Brick  Church  Sabbath  School,  and  is  in  session  only 
through  the  warm  months  of  the  year.  The  first  year  of 
its  existence  it  reported  108  scliolars,  with  an  average  at- 
tendance of  80.  Its  first  Superintendent  was  Mr.  William 
Statesir.  He  was  succeed.ed  by  Mr.  William  Spader, 
who  superintended  the  school  for  twenty  years  with 
great  ability  and  success.  Mr.  Lafayette  G.  Schenck 
was  Superintendent  a  short  time,  when  Mr.  Lafayette 
Schenck,  the  present  Superintendent,  assumed  the  office. 
There  are  in  this  school  four  large  adult  Bible  classes,  an 
infant  class,  13  teachers  and  100  scholars. 

About  the  same  time  that  the  Sabbath  school  was  or- 
ganized, the  weekly  prayer  meeting  was  started.  Mr. 
John  Baird  and  Mr.  William  Van  Dorn,  now  deceased, 
met,  according  to  appointment,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Van 
Dorn,  the  present  residence  of  his  son,  Mr.  Daniel  P.  Van 
Dorn.     The  meeting    was    small.     There    was    only    one 


68 

other  present— the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Mr.  Van  Dorn  led 
the  shiging,  Mr.  Baird  led  in  prayer,  and  the  Lord  Jesas 
Christ  blessed  the  assembly.  The  same  evening  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Spader  and  Mr.  Tunis  V.  Conover,  deceased,  accor- 
ding to  appointment,  held  a  similar  meeting  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  William  Statcsir,  the  house  now  occupied 
by  his  son,  Mr.  D.  Abeel  Statesir.  This  was  also  quite  a 
small  meeting.  But,  as  at  the  other,  so  also  here,  Jesus 
Christ  was  present.  It  was  a  day  of  small  things.  But 
similar  meetings  were  afterwards  held  in  other  parts  of 
the  congregation,  whicli  gave  rise  to  neighborhood  prayer 
meetings,  that  were  well  attended,  and  issued  at  length  in 
the  regular  Thursday  evening  lecture  and  prayer  meeting. 

In  I80I  the  Rev.  Ralph  Willis  succeeded  Mr.  Mar- 
cellus.  Tie  was  installed  September  23d.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Van  Vranken  preached  the  sermon,  from.  St.  Matthew's 
Gospel,  24  :  14.  "  This  Gospel  of  the  Kingdom  shall  be 
preached  in  all  the  world,  for  a  witness  unto  all  nations, 
and  the!i  shall  the  end  come."  The  Rev.  Dr.  Reiley  read 
the  form  and  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor.  The 
Rev.  A.  C.  Millspaugh  delivered  the  charge  to  the  people. 
Mr.  Willis  was  a  graduate  of  Rutgers  College,  and  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  of  New  Brunswick.  He  was  li- 
censed by  the  Classis  of  Philadelphia,  and  ordained  to  the 
Gospel  ministry  as  pastor  of  the  Reformed  church  at 
Bethlehem.,  N.  Y.  in  1842.  Uis  ministry  here  embraces 
a  period  of  over  16  years.  The  pastoral  relation  was  dis- 
solved February  28th,  1868.  From  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent he  has  been  settled  at  Spotswood,  Middlesex  county, 
a  pastor  beloved  l)y  the  peo})lc  of  his  charge  and  cheered 
by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  labors.  The  years  he 
occupied  ihe  i)ul[)it  of  this  church,  althougii  unattended 
b}'  any  speeial  seasons  of  revival,  were  years  of  seed-sow- 
ing and  constant  ingathering;  166  were  added  to  the 
communion  of  the  the  ehureli — 12!)  by  confession  and  37 
by  certilieate. 

In  1852  a  seeond  Siil)l)atli  school  was  organized  at 
Marll)oroiigli.      It  met  in    the   District    school    house,   and 


69 

was  intended  only  as  a  winter  school.  It  was  at  first  su- 
perintended by  Mr.  AVillis  himself.  Those  who  have  oc- 
cupied the  ofHce  of  Superintendent  are  too  numerous  to 
mention.  Those  who  have  done  so  for  the  longest  period 
are  Mr.  Lafayette  G.  Schenck  and  Mr.  John  Baird. 
Since  the  erection  of  the  Chapel  this  school  has  been 
maintained  both  Summer  and  Winter,  and  has  proved 
what  every  Sabbath  school  should,  a  nursery  of  the 
church.  It  is  known  as  the  ^larlborough  Chapel  Sabbath 
School.  There  afe  in  it  a  large  infant  class,  two  adult 
Bible  classes,  15  teachers  and  about  150  scholars.  It  has 
also  a  well  selected  library  of  400  volumes,  purchased  by 
the  young  ladies  attending  the  school. 

In  1855  the  church  grounds  for  burial  purposes  were 
enlarged  by  the  addition  of  an  acre  ot  land,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  church,  and  in  1866  a  similar  addition  was 
made  on  the  east  side,  and  the  sheds  which  formerly  stood 
in  the  rear  of  the  church  were  removed  to  their  present 
position,  greatly  enhancing  the  appearance  of  the  ceme- 
tery, which  is  rapidly  becoming  one  of  the  most  pictur- 
esque and  beautiful.  The  church  building  was  also  put 
in  thorough  repair  and  the  wood  work  painted.  The  im- 
provements cost  the  congregation  about  $2,000. 

In  1856  the  Reformed. church  at  Colts  Neck  was  or- 
ganized, from  families  and  communicants  of  this  church, 
and  the  church  at  Holmdel.  But  the  congregation,  al- 
though twice  depleted  by  the  organization  of  churches 
since  their  separation  IVom  Middletown,  were  not  disheart- 
ened. 

A  minute  of  Consistory  discloses  the  fact,  that  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  revise  the  salary  list,  "which,  owing 
to  some  changes  in  the  congregation  by  removals  had 
fallen  short,"  were  more  than  successful,  not  only  making- 
good  the  loss  sustained,  but  increasing  the  minister's  sala- 
ry $125.     Division  quite  frequenth'  results  in  increase. 

In  1868  the  Rev.  George  Swain  succeeded  ]\lr.  Willis. 
He  was  installed  September  1st.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
the  College  and  Seminary    at  New    Brunswick,  and   bad 


70 

been  ordained  in  1866,  by  tlie  Clussis  of  New  Brunswick, 
at  Middlebush,  Somerset  county,  N.  J.,  which  position 
lie  resigned  at  the  call  of  this  people.  At  his  instaHation 
the  Rev.  Garret  C.  Schenck  presided,  and  read  the  form. 
The  Rev.  George  Seibert  preached  the  sermon,  from  Gala- 
tions  6  :  4 — "  Let  every  man  prove  his  own  work,"  The 
charge  to  the  pastor  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Lockwood,  and  the  Rev.  James  Bolton  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  people.  Mr.  Swain's  ministry  jn'oved  to  be 
a  short  one.  lie  resigned  his  call  in  April,  1873,  to  take 
charge  of  the  Gates  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
Brooklyn,  iS".  Y.  This  position  he  occupied  about  two 
years,  when  he  became  pastor  of  the  Old  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Allentown,  Monmouth  county,  IST.  J.,  where  he 
still  resides.  During  his  ministry  here  60  persons  were 
added  to  the  membership  of  the  church,  43  by  confession 
of  faith,  and  17  by  certificate. 

Immediately  atter  the  settlement  of  xMr.  Swain,  meas- 
ures were  inaugurated  for  securing  a  Lecture  Room  or 
Chapel  in  the  village  of  Marlborough.  Various  causes 
rendered  such  a  building  desirable.  The  village  was 
growing,  and  many  of  its  inhabitants,  in  the  communion 
of  the  church,  were  unable  to  attend  the  services  in  tliis 
house  of  worship  with  regularity  and  convenience. 

In  1809  a  suitable  lot  of  about  half  an  acre,  on  the 
west  side  of  Main  street,  in  the  center  of  the  village,  was 
purchased  by  the  Consistory,  and  a  committee  appointed 
to  secure  the  erection  of  a  Chapel.  >[essrs,  Uriah  Smock, 
Peter  L.  Cortelyou,  Lafayette  Schenck  and  Dr.  Lewis  LGor- 
don  constituted  this  committee.  They  pushed  the  work 
forward  with  energy  and  zeal.  The  building  they  erect- 
ed is  26  ft.  wide  and  46  ft.  long  and  cost  the  congregation 
^2,725.  The  pulpit  was  provided  by  the  Consistory  of 
the  Second  Reformed  Church  of  Freehold.  The  bell  was 
donated  by  Mr.  Peter  L.  Cortelyou.  The  head-light 
over  the  door  was  the  gift  of  >h\  David  R.  Ilobart.  Tho 
clock  was  presented  by  the  Hon.  Garret  A.  Ilobart,  of 
Paterson,  N.  J.,  and  tht>  IViblc  and  Hymn    l)Ook   bv  Mrs. 


71 

John  E.  Coiiover.  The  building  was  entirely  free  from 
debt,  and  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  the  Triune  Je- 
hovah, in  accordance  with  the  beautiful  form  prescribed 
in  the  Liturgy  ot  the  Reformed  Church,  November  2l8t, 
18t>9.  An  eloquent  sermon  was  preached  on  the  occasion 
by  the  Rev.  Gulick  Van  Aken,  of  Freehold.  The  house 
was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  the  services  were 
of  a  nature  the  most  interesting.  The  people  rejoiced  and 
the  angels  of  God  rejoiced  in  heaven.  The  building  was 
needed  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  growing  village.  Its  servi- 
ces have  ever  been  largely  attended.  It  has  proved  a  move- 
ment in  the  right  direction,  and  at  the  right  time.  It  has 
constantly  tended  to  the  church's  increase.  God  has 
made  the  place  glorious  by  displays  of  His  power.  We 
need  a  similar  building  in  the  northern  part  of  the  con- 
gregation. My  heart  aches  because  there  is  none.  I  am 
ready  for  the  service  such  a  building  would  require,  and 
pray  God  and  my  people  to  hasten  its  erection. 

In  1870  the  congregation  determined  to  dispose  of 
the  farm,  which  for  forty  j^ears  had  been  the  home  of  their  * 
pastors,  and  build  a  parsonage  in  Marlborough  village. 
To  carry  out  this  desire  a  committee  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Peter  L.  Cortelyou,  Uriah  Smock, 
Peter  C.  Van  Der  Veer,  A.  W.  Ilobart  and  Peter  C.  Du 
Bois.  A  suitable  lot  near  the  Chapel,  but  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  street,  was  purchased  of  Mr.  William  W. 
Herbert,  for  $550.  The  farm  was  sold  for  $6,110,  and  a 
pleasant  home  erected  for  the  pastor's  use.  The  building 
cost  $4,325.  The  necessary  grading  and  fencing  and  out- 
side improvements  about  $1,300.  The  house  is  an  orna- 
ment to  the  village,  and  with  slight  alterations  to  be  made 
in  the  future,  will  be  as  convenient  and  ample  a  dwelling- 
place  as  any  one  could  desire. 

Your  present  pastor  was  called  from  the  First  Reformed 
Church  of  Bayonne  city,  N.  J.,  the  latter  part  of  July, 
1873.  He  commenced  his  labors  the  iirst  Sabbath  of  Sep- 
tember, and  was  installed  the  7th  day  of  October.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Hageman  presided,  read  the  form  and  delivered 


72 

the  cliargeto  the  pastor.  The  sermon,  by  request  of  Clas- 
sis,  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Ransford  Wells,  D.  D.,  then  of 
Brookfield,  Conn,  from  Hebrews  13  :  17— "  Obey  them 
that  have  the  rule  over  you,  and  submit  yourselves,  for 
they  watch  for  your  souls  as  they  that  must  £:ive  account." 
The  charge  to  the  people  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Jas. 
B.  Wilson. 

On  the  following  Sabbath  the  newly  installed  jiastor 
preached  his  inaugural  sermon,  from  Rom.  1  :  15 — "  I  am 
ready  to  preach  tlic  Gospel  to  you."  The  great  and  good 
God,  from  that  time  to  the  present,  has  been  with  us  and 
blessed  us.  Only  four  years  have  passed  since  I  first  ad- 
ministered to  you  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  but 
God  in  his  mercy  has  made  those  years  exceedingly  fruit- 
ful ;  90  persons  liave  been  added  to  the  membership  of 
the  church,  61  by  confession  of  faith  in  Christ,  and  29  by 
certificate.  When  commencing  my  labors  as  your  pastor, 
there  were  in  the  communion  of  the  church  176  persons. 
Death  has  been  busy,  and  removals  have  been  numerous, 
but  to-day,  so  great  has  been  the  Lord's  goodness,  there 
are  217  persons  in  the  conmiunion  of  tlie  church — a  larger 
number  than  during  the  whole  period  of  the  elnirch's  ex- 
istence, 168  years,  have  ever  been  identified  at  one  time 
with  the  church.  To  God  be  all  the  [)raise  and  all  the 
glory  given.     The  increase  is  the  gift  of  His  saving  love. 

Since  1709  tiie  congregation  has  bet.n  in  charge  of 
ten  pastors,  three  of  whom  are  living.  They  have  been 
of  various  nationalities,  and  the  record  is  amusing.  Of 
Welsh,  Hollandish,  Swedish,  French  and  English  descent 
there  has  been  one  each  ;  of  Scottish  descent  two  ;  of  Amer- 
ican J)utch  three.  The  present  pastor  is  the  only  one  "  to 
the  manor  i)orn  " — the  oidy  New  Jersey  Dutchman,  born, 
baptised,  edncatod,  licensed  and  ordained  in  the  Reformed 
Church,  who  has  ministered  here. 

The  first  benevolent  contribution  made  by  thischnrch 
(tf  which  there  is  record,  was  in  1789.  'J'he  record  is  in 
the  Ibnii  of  a  i"o<H'ipt.  and  reads  as  follows  : 


73 

"  Cash  collected  by  Cornelius  Van  Mater,  Dekan  in  the  Middletown 
Meten  house,  for  the  uce  of  the  .Seporte  of  the  Gospel  in  naseteleii  con- 
gregations, and  among  the  Iniiian  Tribe,  on  Sonday,  the  23  August    1789  : 

To  Jarsey  paper  money £2  17     9 

To  Silver, 8    5 

Jarsey  Coppers, 17     8 

£4    3  10 
"  Received  of  Cornelius  Van  Maier,   Dekan,    the   sum   of  fore    pounds, 
three  shillings,  and  ten  pence,  for  tiie  uce  above  saide. 
"  Received  by  me 

tjeptemher  the  1  Benj.  DuBois." 

28lli,  17t«9.      / 

In  1822  there  is  n  record  ot  a  contribution  of  $22  for 
the  Theoh)gic:il  Seminary  at  New  Brnnswiclc.  There 
were  probably  other  benevolent  gifts,  but  the  record  can 
be  seen  only  in  the  books  on  high.  In  1827,  $300  were 
given  for  the  purclr.ise  of  tlie  College  edifice  at  New 
Brunswick,  and  in  1831,  $150  was  contributed  for  the 
same  purpose. 

Since  1853  there  has  been  a  record  of  the  monies 
raised  for  benevolent  purposes,  and  since  1857  of  tlie  mo- 
nies raised  for  congregational  purposes.  In  this  record 
there  are  some  omissions,  a  few  years  are  not  reported.  But 
the  record  shows  that  for  23  years,  since  1852,  there  has 
been  contributed  to  benevolent  objects  $11,922  ;  and  tliat 
for  18  years,  since  1857,  there  has  been  contributed  for 
congregational  purposes,  $32,948. 

The  friends  of  the  churcii  liave  also  to  some  extent 
in  their  last  will  and  testament  remembered  her  interests. 

In  1825  there  was  received  for  church  building  pur- 
poses from  the  esttite  of  Tunis  G.  Van  Der  Veer,  deceased, 
$2,500. 

In  1850  there  was  received  from  the  estate  of  Garret 
Wyckotf,  deceased,  the  interest  to  be  applied  to  the  main- 
tenance of  the  ministry,  $1,725. 

In  1859  a  legacy  was  received  from  William  II. 
Smock,  deceased,  of  $200,  and  in  1877,  a  legacy  from 
Garret  S.  Smock,  deceased,  of  $250,  the  interest  from 
both  to  be  used  for  the  support  of  the  pastor. 


74 

Such  examples  are  wortliy  of  imitation.  A  few  hun- 
dred dolhu-s  thus  wisely  ai.propriated  are  a  lasting  good. 
The  christian  believer,  i)y  such  gifts,  is  enal)led  to  pro- 
claim the  Gospel  forever  on  earth,  while  he  is  adoring  the 
Savior  who  loved  liini,  and  sought  him,  and  brought  him 
to  his  own  bright  home  in  the  skies. 

Of  the  membership  of  the  church,  three  have  conse- 
[  crated  themselves  to  the  Gospel  ministry.  The  tirst  to  do 
I  so  was  the  Rev.  AVilliam  Schenck,  Avho  was  born  October 
13th,  1740.  Tlis  parents  were  Court  Schenck  and  Maria 
Cowenhoven.  They  lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Uriah  Smock,  and  gave  their  child,  William,  to  God  in 
holy  baptism,  January  liOth,  1741.  When  23  years  of  age 
'  he  married  Miss  Anna  Cummings,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
Cummings,  Iligli  Sheriff  of  Monmouth  county,  and  a 
grand-daughter  of  the  wife  of  Rev.  William  Tennent.  He 
commenced  studying  for  the  ministry  in  the  fall  of  1763, 
graduated  from  the  College  of  New  Jersey  at  Princeton 
in  1767,  studied  theology  with  Rev.  William  Tennent,  and 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Xew  Brunswick  in  1770. 
He  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Allentown,  X.  J.,  in  1771.  In  1777  he  assumed  the  pasto- 
rate of  the  Reformed  churches  of  North  and  South  Hamp- 
ton, Penn.,  where  he  remained  for  three  years.  This  was 
his  only  charge  in  the  church  of  his  fathers.  In  1780  he 
removed  to  Pittsgrove,  N.  J.,  and  became  pastor  of  the 
■  Presbyterian  churcii  in  which  Rev.  Benjamin  Dubois  was 
baptised.  After  a  ministry  here  ot  six  years,  he  settled 
at  Ralston,  near  Saratoga.  Here  he  continued  until  1793, 
when  he  removed  to  Huntington,  Long  Island.  This  was 
his  last  pastorate.  In  1817  he  resigned  his  charge,  retired 
from  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry,  and  moved  to 
Franklin  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  September  1st, 
1823,  in  the  83d  year  of  his  age.  One  of  his  grand-sons 
has  for  many  3'ears  been  an  Admiral  in  the  United  States 
Navy. 

"  He  was  a  man  of  inucli   personal   dignity,    and    sus- 
tained a  character  which  challenged  the  respect  of  all  who 


75 

knew  him."*  His  manuscript  sermons  exhibit  mental 
ability  of  no  mean  order— clear  expositions  of  divine  truth 
and  neatly  turned  sentences.  lie  evidently  relied  upon 
God's  truth,  faitlitully  proclaimed  to  do  God's  work.  Tie 
was  a  sound,  evangelical  [.readier,  a  venerable,  tine  look-  r> 
ing-  gentleman,  as  is  testitied  by  a  silhouette  in  the  posses-  / 

sion  of  Rev.  Garret  C.  Schenck. 

The  other  members  of  tins  churcli  wlio  have  entered 
the  ministry,  are  the  Rev.  Garret  C.  Schenck,  who  united  ' 
with  the  church  February  2(1,  1827,  and  whom  you  all 
know  and  love  ;  and  the  Rev.  Edward  P.  Livingstone, 
who  united  with  the  church  in  December,  1854,  and  who 
is  laboring  in  the  West  with  remirkable  success. 

In  1827  there  were  80  families  in  the  congregation, 
and  only  08  in  the  communion  of  the  church,  or  12 
less  than  one  communicant  for  each  family.  These  are 
the  numbers  with  which  commenced  the  occupancy  of 
this  building.  Two  Reformed  churches  have  since  been 
formed  out  of  the  congregation,  one  entirely  and  the 
other  in  part.  A  Baptist  church  has  been  organized  in 
Marlborough  village,  and  a  Methodist  church  in  the  ' 
northern  part  of  tlie  congregation,  but  this  year  we  report 
100  families  aiul  214  in  communion,  or  14  more  than  two 
communicants  for  each  family. 

The  changes  of  the  half  century,  with  the  blessing  of 
God,  have  tended  to  our  increase;  advancing  age,  instead 
of  bringing  decrepitude,  has  brought  greater  strength,  God 
has  remembered  his  covenant  promises,  and  the  Gosjoel 
has -proved  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  the  chil- 
dren of  the  covenant. 

Of  those  who  are  now  in  the  communion  of  the 
church,  by  far  the  greater  number  were  born  and  educa- 
ted in  the  Reformed  church  :  10  were  brought  up  in  the 
Presbyterian  church,  14  in  the  Baptist,  3  each  in  the  Epis- 
copal and  Congregational  church,  one  in  the  Methodist, 
but  183  in  the  Reformed  church.  The  children  of  pious 
parents  have  followed  their    footsteps  ;  16  descendants  of 

*  Thompson's  History  of  Long  Island. 


76 

Dominie  DuBois,  althougli  but  a  comparatively  small  por- 
tion of  his  descendants,  are  in  the  congregation,  all  in 
the  conmiunion  of  the  church.  Of  this  number  5  are 
grand-children,  10  are  great-grand-children,  and  one  is  a 
great-great-grand-child. 

In  51  families  both  husband  and  wife  are  professing 
christians.  In  38  families  all  who  are  over  ten  years  of 
age  are  professing  christians. 

On  the  new  church  register  of  communicants,  made 
in  1873,  the  name  of  Schenck  occurs  32  times.  Van  Der 
Veer  17  times,  Conover  15  times.  Smock  and  AVhitlock 
each  12  times. 

The  congregation  contains  367  persons  :  166  are  males 
of  whom  67  are  in  the  commmunion  of  the  church;  201 
are  females,  of  whom  147  are  in  the  communion  of  the 
church  ;  185  are  or  have  been  married  ;  71  are  under  ten 
years  of  age.  Of  the  families  composing  the  congrega- 
tion, 88  reside  in  Marlborough  township,  7  in  Atlantic,  3 
in  Matavan,  and  one  each  in  Freehold  and  Manalapan.  Of 
the  heads  of  the  families,  70  are  farmers,  11  are  farm  as- 
sistants, 6  are  merchants,  5  are  mechanics,  5  are  gentle- 
men of  leisure,  2  are  clergymen,  and  1  is  a  physiciati. 

In  1709  there  were  only  50  persons  in  the  county  of 
Monmouth  in  the  Reformed  church.  There  are  now,  ac- 
cording to  the  last  Synodical  report,  1,288.  The  total  pop- 
ulation of  Monmouth  county  in  1737,  was  6,086.  The  num- 
ber then  in  the  communion  of  the  Reformed  church  was 
119,  or  about  one  member  of  the  RefornHxl  church  for  every 
52  inhabitants.  The  last  United  States  census  gives  the 
total  population  of  Monmouth  county  at  46,316,  so  that 
now,  with  a  church  membership  of  1,288,  there  is  one 
member  of  the  Reformed  church  for  every  36  inhabitants. 
While  the  population  of  the  county  is  nearly  7.62  times 
greater  than  in  1737,  the  membership  of  the  Reformed 
church  is  more  than  10.62  times  greater  than  at  that  date. 
While  the  po[»uhition  of  the  county  has  increased  at  an  an- 
nual average  rate  of  only  4^  per  cent.,  the  membership  of 
the  Reformed  (ihurch  has  increased  at  an    annual   average 


77 

rate  of  6h  per  cent.  Such  increase  is  gratifying.  It 
shows  us  that  the  Kingdom  of  God  is  advancing,  and  that 
propliecies  ia  relation  to  the  church's  triumph,  are  hast- 
ening to  their  fultiUment.  To  the  God  of  all  grace,  all 
the  praise  is  due.  He  gives  the  increase.  His  presence 
and  favor  and  blessing  are  the  genial  influences  which  se- 
cure prosperity.  "  Except  the  Lord  build  the  house,  they 
labor  in  vain  that  build  it."  "  To  Him  be  all  the  glory." 
The  sainted  ones  who  have  ministered  here  cry  ever  be- 
fore the  throne — "  To  Him  be  all  the  glory."  From  all 
the  churches  represented  here  to-day  the  cry  ascends — 
"  To  Him  be  all  the  glory."  "  Blessing,  and  honor,  and 
glory,  and  power,  be  unto  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the 
throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb  forever." 

The  fact,  that  here,  where  we  are  assembled,  for  nearly 
a  century  and  a  half,  God  has  graciously  been  pleased  to 
dwell,  the  Gospel  has  been  proclaimed,  the  sacraments 
have  been  administered,  redeeming  grace  lias  abounded, 
and  saving  mercy  has  been  found,  not  only  justifies  these 
memorial  services,  but  proclaims  that  this  is  hallowed 
ground. 

"  What's  h:\llo\red  wroumi  :  "Tis  what  gires  birth 
To  sacred  thoughts  in  souls  of  wortli.'' 

But  where  shall  thoughts  more  sacred  be  born  than 
at  the  slirine  ot  achievements  so  mighty,  or  of  works  so 
grand  that  the>'  mutely  testify  : 

"  To  rear  ine  was  the  tasi<  of  power  divine, 
Supri-'mesi  wisdom  and  primeval  love." 

The  memories  of  the  past  should  awaken  gratitude 
the  most  devout,  gratitude  that  this  old  church,  venerable 
with  age,  when  American  independence  was  aciiieved, 
possesses  still  tlie  vigor  of  youth,  with  no  marks  of  old 
age  save  the  lioary  memories  which  hang  over  her  brow, 
a  crown  of  glory  ;  gratitude  that  since  our  fathers  rallied 
around  the  cross,  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  years 
ago,  the  ranks  they  formed  have  never  been  broken  ;  that 
when  the  fathers  fell  in  the  conflict,  their  children  took 
their  places  ;  that  we  have  triumphed  over  the  gates  of 
death  :  that  to-day  we  are  marching  on,  a  larger,  stronger, 


78 

better  disciplined  army  than  ever  before;  gratitude   that 
so  many  now  in  glory,  pointing  to  this  sacred  spot  can  say  : 

"  Oft  the  iiisle  of  that  old  church  we  trod, 
Guided  thither  by  an  an{iel  raotiier  ; 

that  we  have  their  example  to  cheer  us  and  encour- 
age us,  and  that  their  presence  with  God  in  heaven  is  now 
like  "  a  great  voice  from  heaven,  saying,  come  up  hither." 
Oh,  it  is  worthy  of  continual  gratitude  to  know  that 
when  we  are  following  Jesus,  there  is  for  us  a  grand  re- 
union with  those  from  whom  we  are  descended,  a  numer- 
ous company  of  relatives  in  heaven  ;  well  may  we  say  : 

"  Our  boast  is  not  tliat  we  deduce  our  birtli, 
From  loins  enthroned  and  rulers  of  the  earth, 
But  higher  far,  our  proud  pretensions  rise, 
The  sons  of  lathers  passed  into  the  skies." 

The  memories  of  the  past  should  quicken  our  dili- 
gence and  increase  our  zeal.  What  God  has  accomplished 
through  the  instrumentality  of  this  church — the  souls 
here  won  for  Jesus  Christ  are  but  the  iirst  fruits  of  the 
full  harvest  ripening  for  us  to  gather.  More  than  a  thou- 
sand have  here  enrolled  themselves  the  followers  of  Christ, 
a  complete  regiment  in  the  grand  army  of  the  Kingdom 
of  Heaven,  following  to  victory  and  glorious  triumph  the 
Captain  of  our  salvation,  [f  we  are  worth}'  sons  of  wor- 
thy sires,  we  will  "hold  the  fort,"  advance  our  pickets,  at- 
tack the  foe  boldl}',  and  with  zeal  unabating  cease  not  the 
good  fight  until  we  wear  the  crown.  "  Be  ye  steadfast, 
unmovable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord, 
forasmuch  as  ye  know  3'our  labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the 
Lord."  Forgetfulness  maj'  gather  over  our  graves,  but 
what  we  do  for  God  is  eternal.  The  sculptured  marble 
crumbles  into  dust,  but  neither  time  nor  age  destroys  the 
record  on  high.  Blessed  are  those  whose  names  are  writ- 
ten in  heaven. 


Appendix, 


A. 

The  records  of  the  church  are  too  imperfect  to  make  a  complete  list 
of  the  Elders  and  Deacons.  The  persons  named  are  known  to  have  served 
in  these  offices.  After  ITG-i  the  list  is  of  those  onlj  who  represented  the 
Freehold  congregation. 

Elders. 

Peter  Van  Deventer. — 1709.  Koert  Schenck, 

Jan  Wiikof,  William  Williarase. 

Daniel  Hendrickson,  John  Antonidees. — 1785. 

Peter  Kowvenhoven,  Hendrick  Smock, 

Peter  Wiikof,  Denise  Denise, 

Jacob  Van  Doom,  Peter  Van  Dorn, 

Kriin  Van  Jletra,  Ouke  Leffersen, 

Gerrit  Schenk,  Teunis  G.  Van  Der  Veer, 

Jacob  Laen,  George  Lane, 

Jan  Schenck.  Tuenis  D.  DuBois. 

Adrian  Bennet.  — 1719.  John  H.  Schenck. — 1826. 

Johannes  Polhemus,  "  Tunis  D.  DuBois, 

Jan  Sutphen,  Gar;-et  Wyckoff, 

Cornelis  Wiikof,  Daniel  I.  Schenck, 

Jan  Kowvenhoven,  Aaron  Smock, 

Cornelis  Kowvenhoven,  Peter  Van  Dorn, 

Johannes  Lujster.  Denise  Schenck, 

Ouke  Hagewout. — 1728.  John  H.  Smock, 

Ouke  Leffertsen.— 1735.  Ebenezer  Conover, 
Jan  Sutphen,                                   .,  William  Van  Dorn, 

Derick  Barkalo,  David  Nevius, 

Matthew  Pieterson.— 1747.  Garret  H.  Smock, 

Wellem  Cowenhoven,  John  Denise. 

Theunis  Swart,  Disbrow  Carson.— 1836. 

Koert  Schenk,  John  G.  Denise, 

Hendrick  Bennet.  William  Statesir, 

William  Wyckotf.— 1754.  David  Buck, 

Peter  Covenhoven.— 1764,  Henry  Smock, 

Theunis  Denise,  Elias  Sickels. 

Peter  Schenck  William  Woolley. — 1846, 


82 


Tunis  V.  Conover, 
D.  P.  Smock, 
Williiim  Spuder, 
Tunis  S'litesir. 
John  S.  Wliillock, 
Diivid  D.  Hiince. 
Uriali  Smock.— 1856. 
Hendiick  E.  Conover, 
John  D.  Schenck, 
John  E.  Conover 
John  Baird, 


Peter  L.  Cortelyou, 
Josepii  LefTerson. 
Lafiiyelte  Schenck.— 1866. 
William  A.  Whitlock, 
Garret  Wall, 
Isaac  Qnackenbnsh, 
Daniel  P.  Conover, 
Lafa3'ette  G.  Sclienck, 
John  Van  Der  Veer, 
James  E.  Wells, 
Milton  Smock, 


B. 


Deacons. 


Jacob  Van  Dorn.— 1709. 

Garret  Schenk, 

Jacob  Laen, 

Jan  Schenk, 

Adrian  Bennet, 

Cornelius  Cowenhoven, 

Jan  Cowenhoven, 

Johannes  Poliiemus, 

Jan  Sutphen. 

Albert  Cowenhoven. — 1719. 

Cornelius  Wiikof, 

Elbert  Willimsen. 

Johannes  Luyster, 

Oukc  Ilagewout, 

.\drian  Ijangeslract, 

Benjamin  Van  Cleef, 

Jacob  Cowenhoven, 

Cornelius  Doom, 

Peter  Nefies, 

Gisbert  Sutphen, 

Thomas  Davis, 

riendrick  Kip, 

Joiiannes  Antonides, 

Joris  Kowcnhoven, 

Derick  Barkalo. 

Willem  Cowenhoven. — 1729. 

Jan  Van  Metra, 

Koert  Schenck, 

Theunis  Swart. 

Thonnis  Amack. — 1735. 


William  Cowenhoven. — 1764. 

David  Willemson, 

Derrick  Sutphen, 

Cornelius  Cowenhoven, 

John  Antonides. 

Peter  Van  Doom. — 1787. 

Gorge  Smock, 

Ouke  Lcffersen. 

Gorge  Lane. — 1797. 

Tennis  G.  Van  Der  Veer, 

David   A'an  Der  Veer, 

Teunis  I.  D.  Van  Der  Veer. 

Tennis  D.  DulJuis.- 1807. 

Garret  Wyckofl', 

Peter  Wyckoff, 

Samuel  Wjckoff, 

Aaron  Smock, 

John  H.  Smock. 

Garret  G.Van  DerVeer— 18)  7. 

John  Wyckoif, 

.loll  n  Lane.  . 

Garret  II.  Smock. 

Jos.  Van  Cleef.— 182G. 

Garret  G.  Conover. 

Denise  Schenck.— 1827. 

William  Van  Dorn. 

David  Nevius, 

Ebenezer  Conover, 

Geo.  Reid, 

John  Denise, 


83 


Hendrick  H.  Smock,  Jolm  E.  Conover, 

William  WooUej','  K.  liters  B:iiid, 

Elias  Sickels,  Lafayette   Sclienck, 

Henry  Harris,  iM.  D.  Henry  Olterson, 

Disbrow  Carson. — 1832.  William  H.  Hyer 

Peter  P.  Van  Dorn,  James  Van  Kirk.— 1860. 

David  Buck,  Edwin  Sutplien, 

Peter  Van  Dorn,  Jr.,  Garret  Wall, 

Henry  Smock,  John  II.  Sickles, 

William  Statesir,  Jas.  Sherwood, 

William  Wall,  Lafayette  G.  Schcnck, 

William  Robinson,  Isaac  Quackenbnsh, 

J.  F.  T.   Forman,  William  A.  Whillock, 

Aa'-on  Aumack.  Aslier  Woolley, 

D.  Polhemiis  Smock. — 1840.  Milton  Smock, 

RiilifL   Conover,  Alfred  Conover, 

John  DnBois,  D.  H.  Leflerson, 

Sylvester  Buck,  D.  P.  Conover, 

Garret  S.  Smock,  John  Whitlock, 

Tunis  V.  Conover,  Joseph  A.  Van  Der  Veer, 

David  D.  Hance,  John  Van  Der  Veer. 

William  Spader.  Peter  Conover  Van  Der  Veer. 

Tennis  Statesir.— 1  850.  William  W.  Herbert. — 1870. 

Uriah  Smock,  Oscar  F.  Goodrich, 

John  S.  Whitlock,  Richard  Laird, 

Joseph   Schenck,  Jas.  II.  Bairu, 

John  Baird,  Jas.  Tilton, 

Jiilin  D.  Schenck,  Schenck  Herbert, 

Hendrick  E.  Conover,  Denise  Schenck, 

John  C.  Smock,  Selali  B.  Wells, 

Aaron  A.  Smock,  Addison  W.  Uobert, 

Joseph  Lefferson,  John  I.  Rue, 

Garret  S.  Whillock,  John  H.  Van  Mater. 

John  Jolly, 

c. 

Treasurers. 

Garret  Hendricks.on,  William  Statesir, 

Tobias  Polhemus,  William  A.  Whitlock, 

Daniel  I.  Schenck,  William  Spader. 
John  H.  Smock, 

D. 

Clerks. 

William  Statesir.  William  Spader, 

Hendrick  Smock,  Lafayette  G.  Schenck. 
William  Wall, 


34 


E. 
Organists, 


Mrs.  J.  Conover  Smock, 
"     Peter  R.  Boice, 
"     John  V.  Conover, 

Miss  Shepherd, 

Mrs.  John  V.  N.  Willis, 


Mrs.  P.  Conover  Van  Der  Veer, 

"     Wm.  I.  Conover, 

"     Jas.  H.  Baird, 
Mr.    Jas.  R.  Cruikshank, 
Miss  Tilly  Conover. 


F. 


A  literal  copy  of  the  list  of  communicants,  as  recorded  by    Dominies 

Morgan,  Haeghoort  and   Erickzon,  only    in  some   cases   the  name   of  the 
wife  has  been  supplied,  co|)ied  trom  the  Baptismal  Register. 

Peter      Wiikof     and      Willimpe 


1709. 

Peter  Van  Deventer  and  his  wife 

.Mnyka. 
Jan   Wiikof    and   Nelke    Kowen- 

oven,  his  wifa. 
Kriin    Jansen*    and    Nelke    Van 

Cleve. 
Gisbert  Laen  and  Jannetie  Lam- 

merse. 
Jacob    Van    Doom   and    Maryka 

his  wife. 
Jan   Schenk    and    Sara   Kowen- 

oven,  his  wife. 
Gerret  Schenk   and  Nelke  Voor- 

hees,  his  wife. 
Peter    Kowpnoven    and  Patience 

Daas,f  his  wife. 
Cornelius  Kowenoven  and    .Mar- 
garet Schenk,  his  wife. 
Albert    Kowenoven     and    Nelke 

Schenk,  his  wife. 
Jan  Kowenoven  and  Jacoba  

his  wife. 
Jacob  Kowenoven. 
Daniel  Heridricksen  and  Katriink 

Van  Dlik,  his  wife. 
Willem     Hendricksen    and    Wil- 

lempe,  his  wife. 
Andreas  Jansen  and    lianiiii.  Iii.s 

wife. 
Jacob  Laen  and  Kiizabct    Barka- 

lo,  his  wife. 


Schenk,  his  wife. 
Johannes    Pollieraus  and    Anna-- 

tie  his  wife. 

Ouke     LeH'ersen      and      Catrina 

Vonk,  his   wife. 
Joseph  Golderand  Anneke  Daws 

his  wife. 
.\urie  Borum  aud  Sarah   Smack, 

his  wife. 
Aurie  Bennett  and  Barbara 

his  wife. 
Hendrick    Guyluck    and    Cautie 

Ammerman,  his  wife. 
Jacol)  Wiikof. 

Karet  Van  Diik  and  his  wife. 
Johannes  Court. J 

1711. 

Jan     Romiiu    and    Geerke    Van 

Diik,  his  wife. 
Geerke,  Widow  Romeyn. 
Perick  Barkelo  and  Janeke  Van 

.\rsdale,  his  wife. 
Benjamin  Keener. 
Simon  Van  Noorten  and  his  wife. 
Barbara,  wife  of  Johannes  Court. 
Hank  Sutphin,  wife  of  Benjamin 

Van  Cleve. 

1712. 

Sarn     ^)chenk,     wife     of     Jacob 
Kowenoven. 


♦  This  niiiiie  slioiilil  Imvti  lictfii  writtt-u  Kriin  Jmiscn  Vtiu  Miitir. 

t  SoiiietiniPs  spi'lloil  DiiWR. 

X  Tli«'Ki!  iir«  tilt-  4y  uit-iiilierx  of  the  chiiirli  at  tin-  timo  ol  il.i  urjiaiiizittiuu. 


86 


1713. 

Jan  Sutphinand  Angelke  Bennet 

his  wife. 
Derick    yutpliin    and     Alargaret 

Van  Pelt,   liis  wife. 
Adrian  Laiigestraet   and    Criste- 

na  Janse,  liis  wife. 
Cornelis  Doom.* 
Janeke  Sclienk. 
Eyke  Van  Jletra. 

,  wife  of  Jacob  Wiikof. 

Margaret,  wife  of  Albert  Emans. 
Mattiis  Laen. 
John  Van  Metra. 

1714. 
Albert  Amermaii. 
Janatban  Foreman. 

1715. 

Laurence    Van    Hoeck  and     his 

wife. 
Roleph  Schenk. 
Jan  Van  Noordtstrandt. 
Helena  Willemse. 
Frans  Lukas. 
Johannes  Luj-ster  and    Lucretia, 

liis  wife. 
Cornelis   Wiikof  and    Adrianke, 

his  wife. 
Anke    Schenk,    wife     of    JIatiis 

Laen. 
Antie   Brower,  widow   of  Pieter 

Brower. 
Debora    Buys,    wife    of   Thomas 

yniilli. 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Obadia   Bown. 

1717. 

Nicholas  Lake. 

Gisbert  Suti)lien   and    Geertruy 

Van  Pelt,  his  wife. 
Elbert    Willenison    and   Jocka- 

miinke,  his  wife. 
Benjamin    Ilolsaert  and  Annitee 

Luyster,  his  wife. 
■Peter  Nefies  and    Aiitie his 

wife. 
Aart  Willemson    and    Autie    his 

wife. 


1719. 

Benjamin  Van  Oleve. 

Anke  Golder,    wile    of   Cornelis 

Doom. 

,  wife  of  Jacob  Wiikof. 

-Martiin  Nefies  and  his  wife. 
Hendrick  Voorhies  and  Jannelje 

Hendricksen,  his  wife. 
Jahannes    Swart,    and    Rebecca 

Smak,  his  wife. 
Jacobus  Swart. 
Theunis  Swart. 

1721. 

Jacob  Sutphiu  and  his  wife. 

,  wife  of  Peter  Voorhees. 

Jan  Bennet. 
Gisbert  Van  Metra. 
Hendrickus  Kip. 

Willem  Ger  Kowvenhoveu  and 
his  wife. 

1723. 

Janneke  Kouwenhoven. 

Englke  Van  Diik,  wife  of  Hen- 
drickus Van  Wie. 

Tunis  Amak  and  Lena  Laen, 
his  wife. 

Anna  Katrina. 

Gurtruy  Bennet,  wife  of  Tunis 
Van  Pelt. 

Geertie  Luyster,  wife  of  Tunis 
Swa'rt. 

1724. 
Johannes  Anionides  and  Johan- 
na Kowveniioven,  his  wife. 
Marike,  wife  of  Ed.  Barber. 
Jan  -Machis  and  Yda,  his  wife. 

1726. 

Johanna  Lu3  sler,  wife  of  Bar- 
rent  Smack. 

Maria  Van  Dijk,  wife  of  Joseph 
Golder. 

Hans  Brower. 

Maria,  wife  of  Frank  Jacobise. 

1727. 

Stephen  Auniack  and  Jannetse 
Janse,  his  wife. 


*  Afterwards  written  Cornelis  Van  Doom. 


S6 


Willem     Alb.     Koweaoveu,    and 

Elizabeth,  his  wife. 
Roleph  Ger  Schenk   and   Eng^el- 

ke,  his  wife. 
Ananeke  Van  Doom. 
Jan  Lamberts. 
Jan    Benham    and    Gertie     Van 

Diik,  his  wife. 

17S1. 

Gkkardus  Hakghoort,  Pastor. 
Ariaentie,  wife  of  Willem    Kou- 

wenhoven. 
Pieter  V.  Voorhees. 
Cornelius    Van    Der    Veer     and 

Yannetse  Wykhaf. 
Arriaantie  Van  De  Water,  widow 

of  Willem  Bennit. 
Koert  Sclienck  and  Mareitie,  his 

wife. 
Joris    Kouwenhoven   and    Altije 

Luyster,  his  wife. 
John  Johnson  and  Willempe,  his 

wife. 
Nicolaas  Van  Brunt  and  Geertje 

Hendrickson,  his  wife. 
Aris  Van  Der  Bilt. 
Aguitie  Van  Doom,  wife  of  Wil- 
lem Wjkhoff. 
Joanna  Van  Du  Mast. 
Widow  De  Looy. 
Catharina  De  Looy,  wife  of  Rev. 

G.  Haeghoort. 
Margretse    Willemse,      wife      of 

Abram  Aureus. 
Gerrit  Gerritsen. 
Gerrit  G.  Wyckoff. 
B.  Bryck. 
Jan    Van    Devenler    and    Antije 

Wynants,  his  wife. 
Jan  Bennet  and  Yda  Van  Matere. 
Gerret    Kowenoven    and   Lysbet 

his  wife. 
Hendrick  Bennet   and    Jannetse 

Kowenoven,  his  wife. 
Sara  Meser.  wife  of  Hans   Hen- 

dricksen. 
Sara  Huysman,   wife    of  Nathan 
Diyk. 


Ytie  Suydam,  wife  of  Jan  Van 
^leteran. 

Hendrick  Smak  and  Autie  Van 
Duyn,  his  wife. 

Cornelia  Gysberts,  wife  of  Jos. 
Dennis. 

Grietje  Wikhof,  wife  of  Willem 
Wallen. 

Willeinitse  Van  Voorhees,  wife 
of  Hendrickns  Kip. 

Sytie  Van  Wihkale,  wife  of  Jo- 
seph Van    Cleeft. 

Gannethe  Laen. 

17S7. 

Reynhard  Erickzon,  Pastor. 

John  Smit. 

Johannes  Snuik.  and  Trijntje 
Barentze,  his  wife. 

Anna  Elisabet  Tederick. 

Tenntje  Hendrikze,  wife  of  Jona- 
than Homes. 

Hendrik  Hendrikze. 

Barent  Smak. 

Cornelius  Van  Der  Veer  and 
Marretje  Smak,  his  wife. 

Benjamin  Van  Metteren  and 
Elisebeth  Laan,  his  wife. 

Joseph  Van  Metteren  and  Sara 
Schenk,  his  wife. 

Maria  Elisabeth  Diets. 

Widow,  John  M.  Scholtes. 

Jan  Sutveen.  Jr. 

iMaijka  Van  Kerk,  wife  of  Jan 
Lammertze. 

Altje  Couwenhove,  widow. 

Abraham  Van  Deventer. 

Arie  Van  Doom- 

Geertje  Voorhees. 

Altje  Garretze. 

J74O. 
Phoebi  Smit,  widow. 
Adriann  Hun. 
Theunis  De  Neis,  and  Francijut- 

je   llindrikzon,  his  wife. 
Maijke  Hindrikzon,  wife  of  Gijs- 

bert  Van  Metteren. 
Joiiannes  Bennit    and    Agnietje, 

his  wife. 


87 


Wilm  Corn.  Couwenliove. 

Roelef  Couwenliove. 

Hindrik  Zedam  and   .Maria    Van 

Sikkele,  his  wife. 
Cathrina  Langstraat,  wife  of  Jan 

Sutveen,  Jr. 
Elisabeth  Borkioo,  wife    of   Reik 

Zedam. 
Peregrinus  Imbiirg  and  Cornelia 

Provoost,  liis  wife. 
Gerrit  Sclienk,  Jr.   and  Jannet- 

je  Couwenhove,  his  wife. 
Neeltje  Schenk,  wife  of   Hindrik 

Hindrikzon. 

1741. 

Pieter  Voorhees. 

Wilm     Couwenhove    and    Antje 

Hindrikze. 
Maria  Langstraat,  wife  of  Wilm 

Hindrikzon. 
Ariaantje  Couwenhove. 

1743. 

Matthias  Pieterzon  and  Gezina 
Hindrikzon,  liis  wife. 

Johannes  Hills. 

Jannetje  Thiesson,  wife  of  Jona- 
than Hout. 

Jan  Jansen. 

Jannetje  Couwenhove,  wife  of 
Aart  Van  Derbilt. 

Willem  Heijer  and  .Maria  Van  De 
Rijp. 

Jannetje  Thijsson,  wife  of  Petrus 
Hegens. 

Antje  Schenk,  wife  of  Arie  Van 
Doom. 


Sarah    Van  Brijk. 

1745. 
Wilm  Wijkhof. 
Aafje  Erickzon. 
Bernardus  Vroman. 

1746. 
Helena  Boomgaart. 

1747. 
Geesjc  Hindrikzon,  wife  of  Roe- 

lef  Schenk. 
Daniel  Hindrikzon  »nd  Cathrina 

Couwenhove,  his  wife. 
Jannetje    Hindrikzon,   widow    of 

Roelef  Couwenhove. 

1750. 

Derk  Zutveen. 

Wilm  Wilrazon  and  Aaltje  Cou- 
wenhove, his  wife. 

Pieter  Couwenhove  and  Lea 
Schenk,  his  wife. 

Mattheus  Laan  and  Catheiina 
Polhemus,  his  wife. 

David  Wilenzon. 

Pieter  Schenk. 

Jan  Schuraeman. 

Neeltje  Van  Mettere,  wife  of  Ger- 
rit Couwenhove. 

Sara  Smak. 

Jacob  Van  Doom. 

^  1752. 

David  Wilemzon   and    Femmetje 

Swart,  his  wife. 
Johannes    Smak    and    Elisabeth 

ConwenhoTe,  his  wife.* 


G. 

These  Bibles  are  the  same.  They  were  piinted  in  1728,  and  probably 
brought  to  this  country  by  Rev.  Gcrardus  Haeglioort,  in  1731.  They  were 
published  by  consent  of  the  States  General  cf  the  Netherlands.  They  con- 
tain : 

An  introduction  to  all  the  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 

The  Psalms  of  David  set  to  music. 

*  The  spelling  of  the  Uiinies  seems  to  have  been  ut  the  option  of  the  pastor.     IlHeghoort 
was  the  only  Ilolhinder,  and  proliillj-  gives  the  correct  Dntch  oitho(:rHj.liy.    Mort:an  was 
a  Scotchman,  and  has  spelled  the  names  ae  tbtj  si unded  to   Lini.     Lis   reiird   n.ay   Le  a 
guide  to  the  Dutch  pronunciation. 


88 


The  Heiilelbergh  ratechism. 

The  Helj^ic  Confession  of  Faith. 

The  Liturgy  of  tiie  Reformed  Church  of  the  Netherlands,  and  copies 
of  several  Ancient  Creeds,  together  with  a  Compendiuai  of  the  Christian 
Religion. 

The  following  is  a  literal  transcript  of  the  title  page  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  wood  cut  which  adorns  it  : 

BIBLIA, 

DAT    IS 

De  gantfche  H.  Schrifture, 

vervattende     alle     de     Canonijcke 
Boecken  des  Ouden  en  des  Nieuwen 


TESTEMENTS. 


■a€.Md  J^-e^  ^-ed^u^^l  ^-a^-tz-e  Synode  Nationael, 

Uyt  de  Oorfpronckelicke  talen  in  onfe 
.  Nederlandtlche  tale  getrouwelick 
overgefet. 


Met  Consent  van  de  Ed:  Gr:  Aohtb : 

Heeren      Burgermeesteren 
in  Amsterdam. 


89 

H. 

This  anthem  was  selected  because  of  its  similarity  to  the  one  sung  at 
the  dedication  of  the  church,  September  9th,  1827.  The  music  then  used 
could  not  be  found,  and  the  anthem  could  not  be  repeated  entire.  The 
first  verse  was  sung  to  a  modern  melody.  We  insert  for  preservation  the 
old 

Dedication  Anthem. 

I  was  glad  when  they  said  unto  me 

Let  us  go  to  the  house  of  the  Lord  : 

Our  feet  shall  stand  within  thy  gates, 

0  Jerusalem  ;  0  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem  is  builded 

As  a  city  that  is  compact  together, 

Whither  the  tribes  go  up,  the  tribes  of  the  Lord, 

Unto  the  testimony  of  Israel, 

To  give  thanks  to  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

Peace  be  witliin  thy  walls 

And  prosperity  within  thy  palaces  ; 

Peace  be  within  this  sacred  place. 
And  joy  a  constant  guest. 
With  holy  gifts  and  Heavenly  grace 
Be  her  attendants  bleat  ; 

Here,  mighty  God,  accept  our  vows. 
Here  let  Thy  praise  be  spread. 
Bless  the  provision  of  Thy  house, 
And  feed  the  poor  with  bread; 

Here  let  the  Son  of  David  reign. 
And  God's  Anointed  shine  ; 
Justice  and  truth  His  courts  maintain, 
With  love  and  power  divine  ;  ' 

Here  let  Him  hold  a  lasting  tiirone, 
And,  as  His  kingdom  grows, 
Fresh  honors  shall  adorn  his  crown, 
And  shame  confound  His  foes. 

How  beautiful  upon  the  mountain 
Are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good  tidings. 
That  publisheth  peace.     Peace  be  on  earth, 
Good  will  towards  men.     Hallelujah  I 

For  the  Lord  God 
Omnipotent  reigneth  ;  for  the  Lord  God 

Omnipotent  reigneth  ! 

Amen  !   amen  ! 


NAMES  OF  COMMUNICANTS,  SEPT.  5,  1877. 


C,  indicates  received  by  Certificate  ;  P,  by  Profession  of  Faitli.  We 
do  not  know  the  exact  time  when  those  were  received  who  united  with 
the  church  during  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Van  Vranken  ;  the  dale  of  their  re- 
ception is  left  blank.  The  maiden  name  of  married  ladies  is  in  the  right 
hand  column,  f  Designates  widows.  J  Indicates  filial  descent  from 
those  whose  names,  if  man  and  wife,  are  immediately  above  without  this 
mark,  or  from  the  person  whose  name  is  immediately  above  without  this 
mark.  *  Denotes  long  continued  residence  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  con- 
gregation.. The  persons  thus  designated  are  unknown  to  the  present  pas- 
tor. 


Names.  ;When  Rec'd.IHowI  Rbmarks. 


Miss  Mary  Ellen  Asay Dec.  6,  '73. 


John  Baird, JNov.  19, '40.  I     P     '. 

Mrs.  John  Baird Jan.  31,  '52.  i     C    Sarah  Ann  Denise. 

David    A.  Baird. J June  G, '73.  i     C   ' 

Robert  C.  Baird. i \     "     "     "  i     Pi 

James  H.  Baird. J "     "'68.  I     Cj 

Mrs.  James  H.  Baird "     "'73.  ,     C    Huldab  Millspaugh. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Baird Nov.  19, '40.  ,     P   I 

Mrs.  John  B.  Bennet.f Mar.  1, '62.  ;     P   ;Ann  Sickels. 

Miss  Anna  Boice "      6,  '69.  P     

Mrs.  Elias  Brower,  Sr.f P    Elizabeth  Myers. 

"     Elias  Brower,   Jr Mar.  1,  '40.  P     Mary  McGachen. 

John  E.  Brower Dec.  4,  '69.  ,     P     

Mrs.  J.  E.  Brower June  3, '60.  P    Elizabeth  Anderson. 

Joseph  E.  Brower.J Mar.  3, '77.  P     

Miss  Anna  M.  Brower.  + '•     "     "  P     

Mrs.  Garret  Brower Dec.  5,  '^4.  ("     Sarah  Brower. 

"      William  Brown "      1,  '60.  1'     .Matilda  Reed. 

"     Edward  Burke* "     5,  '57.  P     Mary  E.  Hulse. 

Joseph  A.  Butcher '     "   '75.  P 

Mrs.  Joseph  A.  Butcher "     "     "  P     Eimira  Pittenger. 


Disbrow  Carson , <'  

William  V.   Carson.  + Mar.  6,  '75.  P  

Mrs.  Wm.  V.  Cars^on i     "     5. '65.  P  Kleanor  Herbert. 

"     Garret  Carson May  25, '44.  P  Anna  M.  Hyer. 

"      William  Clavton P  Ann  Brower. 

"     Wm.  Clayto^n,  Jr Mar.  3,  '77.  P  Anna  BurJte. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Clayton. J "     "     "  P  


92 


Names. 


Mrs.  Charles  F.  Clayton Sept, 

"     John  V.  Conover.-)-* Mar. 

"     Wm.  I.  Conover Dej;. 

Daniel  P.  Conover Sept, 

Mrs.  D.  P.  Conover 

John  D.  Conover.;}: Mar. 

Mrs.  Garret  Conover Sept. 

Miss  Elizabeth  W.  Conover Mar. 

Mrs.  John  R.  Conover. f Sept. 

Miss  Alethia  Cooke Ma: 

"    ilartha  M.  Cornell 

Peter  L.   Corcelyou 

Mrs.  P.  L.  Cortelyou 

Cornelius  Conrson I  Oct. 

James  R.  Cruikshank Mar 

Mrs.  James  R.  Cruikshank 

Miss  Kate   M.  Cruikshank.];.... 


When  Rec'd. 


Mrs.  P.  Conover  DuBois.f. 
Miss  Mary  Klla  DuBois.J... 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Dunham.* 


John  T.  Emmons.* 

Mrs.  Wm.  T.  Emmons. 
Holmes  S.  Emmons. J.. 


Miss  Jane  E.  Gordon 

Mrs.  Lewis  I.  Gordon. f. 

"     George  C.  Gordon 

Miss  Ella  C.  Gordon. J.... 


David  D.  Hance Jan.   8,  '43. 

Mrs.  David  D.  Hance". 

Miss  Helen  Hankinson June  6,  '74. 

Joseph  W.  Hau.xhurst.* Mar.  6,  '69. 

Miss  Margaret  Hayes Dec.  4,  '69. 

Mrs.  Jolin  W.  Herbert "     5,  '68. 

Miss  Catherine  Herbert. J June  6,  '74. 

J    Schenck  Herbert Dec.  6,  "i3. 

Miss  Cornelia  H.  Herbert June  6,  '74. 

Gordon  D.  Herbert Dec.  4,  '75. 

Addison  W.  Hobert June  5,  '69. 

Mrs.  A.  W.  Hobert 

David  R.   Hoheri..J •'     2,  '77. 

Mrs.  D.  R.  Hobert 

Mrs.  Jonathan  S.  Hcflmes Mar.  4,  '76. 

Asher  H.  Holmes. ;J; "     6,  '6^*. 

Mrs.  A.  H.  Holmes "     3. '67. 

Tylee  S.  Holmes. J  "     4,  '76. 

.Miss  Sarah  M.   Holmes. J 

Mr.-^.  Ijozell  Holmes j     "     5,  '70. 

.Michael  Holmes iDec.  4,  '69. 

Mrs.  Michael  Holmes "     "     " 

Miss  Ella  Holmes. J 'June  3.  '76. 


'70. 
'37. 
'74. 

'65. 

il 

'76. 

'71. 
'76. 

'55. 
'71. 
'76. 
'61. 

'42. 
'76. 


June  6.  '63. 
Sept.  5,  '74. 
Mar.  4,  '71. 

Mar.  3,  '66. 
June  5,  '70. 
Mar.  3,  '77. 


Dec.  5,  '68. 
Mar.  4,  '76. 


How 


Remarks. 


Mary  H.  Wall. 
Eleanor  Schenck. 
Cornelia  L.  Smock. 


Elmira  T.  Morgan 
Mary  Hulshan. 
Mary  Jane  Van  Kirk. 


Jane  Bergen. 


Kate  .M.  .Molt. 


Ann  Virginia  Carson. 


Ann  Eliza  Bennet. 


Rachel  Emmons. 


Lydia  V.  Wallers. 
Mary  S.  Conover. 


Jane  Ann   Van  Cleef. 


Agnes  Wright. 


Sophia  Van  Der  Veer. 


Ella  S.  Smock. 
.Matilda  V.  Schenck. 


Margaret  Schenck. 


Ellen  E.  Sickels. 
Julia  Ann  Emmons. 


93 


Names. 
Samuel  T.  Holmes. J; 

When 

Mar.  2, 

II     II 

June  5, 
Apr.  26 

Mar.  3, 
June  2, 

Sept.  4 

"      5, 

ALir.  3, 

"      5, 

Rkc'd. 

'67 

Mrs.  S    T.  Holmes  

Mrs.  John  S.  Hulshart.f 

Miss  Catherine  L.  Hyer.* 

Mrs.  James  Johnson.* 

'5y. 

,  '5L 
'66 

Samuel  Jones 

'77 

Mrs.  Samuel  Jones 

II 

Richard  Laird 

'69 

.Mrs.  R.  Laird 

Miss  Rhoda  R.  Laird. J 

u 

"     Caroline   Laird. J 

'74. 
'77.  ■ 
'54. 

"     Mary  Ella  Laird. + 

Lewis  M.  Laird. J 

Samuel  Leigli ton 

.Mrs.  Samuel   Leighton 

William  R.   Leighton^ 

Mrs.  Wm.  R.  Leighton 

■'     Conover  Leighton 

Rev.  E.  P.  Livingston.* 

Mrs.  Samuel  Luyster 

Mar.  3, 
Sept.  1, 
M.-ir.  1, 
Dec.  2, 
Sept.  2, 

June  3, 
Feb.  28 

'77. 

'77. 
'73. 
'54. 

'76. 

'76. 
'74. 

Miss  Elizabeth  S.  McGachen.J 

Sept.  3, 
Dec.  4, 

Mar.  4, 
June  2, 

"     6, 
Sept.  5, 
June  6, 

"     5) 

'53. 
69. 

76. 
'72. 
'74. 
'74. 
'74. 
'58. 
'69. 

"    Sarah  J.  McGachen 

Jacot)  McGachen,  Jr 

Mrs.  Jacob  .McGachen,   Jr 

Mrs.  Rev.  A.  0.   Millspaugh.... 
Miss  Sarah  E.   Millspaugh. J.... 

Mrs.  Charles   Millspaugii 

Miltbrd  Minkinson  * 

.Mrs.  Jonathan  Morgan 

How 


Remarks. 


George  Nodes iMar.  4,  • 

Mrs.  George  Nodes jMay  30, 

John  H.  Nodes. j iMar.  4. 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Nodes \     -     " 

Ira  Otterson ISept.  2, 

Mrs.  Ira  Ottersoii !     "     " 


Absolum  Powelson June  2,  '72. 


Mrs.  Isaac  Quackenbush |Jan.  19, 

Miss  Sarah  E.  Quackenbush. J. jSept.  6, 

Mrs.  John  N.  Reed,* !Mar.  L 

James   Reiley "     •^• 

Mrs.  J.  T.  Roberts •■     ^• 

John  r.   Rue I'cc.  4. 


76. 

P 

'75. 

P 

76. 

P 

P 

'76. 

C 

■  ' 

C 

p 
p 
p 
p 

p 
c 

c 

c 

c 
c 

0 

p 
p 
p 
p 
p 
p 
p 
c 
p 

p 
c 
p 
p 
p 
p 
p 
p 
c 
p. 
p 
p 
p 


'50. 

P 

'66. 

P 

62. 

P 

77. 

i' 

66. 

P 

77. 

P 

iJane  L.  Hendrickson. 
Jane  Maines. 


Adeiia  Hendrickson. 

JMary  D.  Schenck. 

i 

JAmelia  Emmons. 


iSarah  Jane  Nivison. 

Mary  Louisa  Weeks. 
Eleanor  J.  Sickels. 

Catherine  G.  Painton. 


Sarah  M.  Van  Kirk. 
.Marv  Nivison. 


Sarah  C.  Van  Kirk. 
Sarah  A.  Barkalo. 

Jane  Elizabeth  Conover. 

Gerradine  Van  Winkle. 


Henrietta  Stillwagon. 
iSarah  Easton. 

Cathr'ne  A.  VanDerVeer 

i 

.Margaret  Chasey. 

Amelia  Woolev. 


94 


Names. 


When   Rec'd. 


Mrs.  John  I.  Rue Dec.  4,  '69. 

Rev.  Garret  C.  Sclienck I  Feb.  2,  '27. 

Mrs.  Rev.  G.  G.  Sclienck Ijune  5,  '53. 

Martyn  G.  Sclienck.  J Mar.  6,  'fi;*. 

Lafayetie  G.  Schenck.J '     "  •  3,  '60. 

Mrs.  Lafayette  G.  Schenck ]     "     -','72. 

Lafayette  Sclienck !     ''     1, '56. 

Mrs.  Lafayette  Sclienck IDec.  2,  '54. 

Miss  Jane  Ann  Sclienck. J jJnne  5,  '76. 

A^rs.  Sydney  Sclienck.f 

"     William  Sclienck. f i 

Miss  Eleanor  H.  Sclienck. J JDec.  1,  '60. 

Mrs.  Jacob  Sclienck j 

Joseph  Schenck Ijan.  2,  '47. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Schenck June  1, '40. 

Aaron  V.  P.  Schenck JMar.  I,  '63. 

Mrs.  A.  V.  P.  Schenck June  6.  '63. 

Denise  Schenck JMar.  5,  '65. 

Mrs.  Denise  Sclienck iDec.  5, 

Miss  Mary  G.  Schenck j     "     '' 

Mrs.  Holmes  Schenck Sept.  '1 

"     Garret  Schenck. f iJune  2, 

Miss  Georgianna  Schenck. t...  Dec.  4, 


'63. 


1, 


'63. 

'75. 
.  '67. 
June  5, .'70. 
Dec.  3,  '50. 
Mar.  2,  '51. 
''  2,  '67. 
Dec.  5,  '74. 


Mrs.  Elias  Schenck 

"     Gordon  Schenck 

John  H.Sickels 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Sickels 

"     Wm.  Sickels. f 

.Miss  Laura  Sickels. J 

"     Irene  Sickels. J 

Mrs.  Holmes  Sickels Sept.  5,  '69. 

"     John  R.   Sickels j      •'      1,  '73. 

Miss  Mary  Smith "     3, '70. 

Daniel  P    Smock Mar.  I.  '40. 

Mrs.  D.  P.  Smock 'Oct.  14,  '48. 

Miss  Ann  P.  Smock.  + iJuiie  1,  '67. 

"     Elizabeth  Smock. J jSejjt.  1,  '67. 


'•     Jane  V.  D.  Smock. J 

Milton  Smock. J. 

Mrs.  Milton  Smock , 

"     Garret  S.  Smock.f 

Uriah  Smock 

Mrs.  Uriaii   Smock 

William  Spader 

Mrs.  Wm.  Spader 

J.  Van  Der  Bill  Spader.;];* 

.Mrs.  D.  Abeel   Statesir 

"     Joseph  Stryker.f 

Miss  Sarah  Slrykcr 

"     Ann  Sutpliin 

Mrs.  Wm.  Sntiihin 

Miss  Jessie  C.  Sutpliin. ;|; 

"     Fannie  J.  Sutpliin.  + 

.Miss  Josephine  Sutpliin 


Dec.  6, 
''     5,  "63. 

11        u        u 

June  1,  '40. 
May  25,  '44. 
Nov.  19,  '43. 
July  15,  '43. 
Mar.  3,  '54. 
Sept.  4,  '58. 
Mar.  6,  '65, 
.\pr.  10.  '41. 
Mar.  4,  '76. 
Feb.  12,  '53. 
Mar.  1,  '68. 

"     .1.  '76. 

"     3,  '77. 

•■      4,  '76. 


3pw 

REM.MtKS. 

p 
p 

C 
P 
I^ 

c 
p 
(.1 
p 
p 
p 

p 

Adaline  Armstrong. 

Jane   McCormick 

Mary  V.  DuBois. 

Sarah  S.  Van  Der  Veer. 

Sarah  Ann  Smock. 
Abby  Polhemus. 

!Mary  Ann  Hall. 


Catharine  A.  Taylor. 


Ellen  H.  Buck. 


Jane  Ann  Hyer. 


Eleanor  .Morgan. 
Anne  V\^ill. 

Ida  V.  W.  Morgan. 
Catherine  Garretson. 

Amanda  Johnson. 
[Hannah  Clayton. 


Catherine  L.  Wotlle3^ 
Amelia  Ann  VanSchoick 


Sarah  Jane  DuBois. 


Ulizabelh  DuBoi.< 
Ann  Con  over. 


Catherine  Schenck. 


Mary  L.  W hillock 


Ann  Van  Der  Veer. 
Jeriisha  Sanford. 


Margaret  Ann  Str.vkei 


95 


Names. 


.Mrs.  Lawrence  Taylor. 

"     yamiiel   Taylor.... 

Miss  Sai-ali  Thompson. 

James  VV.  Tilton 

Mrs.  James  W.  Tilton.. 


Charles  Van  Cleef 

.Mrs.  Cliarles  Van  Cleef 

Aaron  Van  Der  Veer 

Mrs.  Aaron  Van  Der  Veer 

P.  Conover  Van  Der  Veer. J 

Mr.s.  P.  C.  Van  Der  Veer 

Joseph  A.  Van  Der  Veer 

Mrs.  Jos.  A.  Van  Der  Veer 

Miss  Georgiana  Van  Der  Veer 

John.  Van  De.r  Veer 

Mrs.  John  Van  Der  Veer 

'■     Edgar  Van  Der  Veer 

"     Abrara  Van  DerVuer 

"  B.  Sclienck  Van  DerVeer 
-Miss  Catherine  Van  Dorn 

'•     Fannie  Van  Dorn 

Mrs.  Joseph  Van  Dorn 

George  H.  Van  Dorn 

Mrs.  R.  Schenck  Van  Kirk.f ... 

John  Henry  Van  Kirk 

John  H.  Van  Mater 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Van  Mater 

Charles  S.  Van  Mater 

Augustus  Van  Mater 


June  1,  '4(1. 
Dec.  5,  '68. 
Sept.  5,  '57. 
Dec.  1,  '72. 
"     4.  '69. 


Garret  Wall 

J  a  m  e  s  W  a  1 1 

Mrs.  Charles  Walters. f 

■'     Rev.  Ransford  Wells 

Rev.  Theodore  W.  Wells. J  ... 

Mrs.  Rev.  T.  W.  Wells 

Miss  Laura  H.  Wells. J 

James  E.  Wells 

Mrs.  J.  E.  Wells  

Miss  Harriet  C.  Wells. J 

Sehih  B.   VVells.J 

Mrs.  S.  B.Wells  

Miss  Lydia  Whitlock , 

John  S.    Whitlock 

Mrs.  John  S    Whitlock 

Miss  Mary  E.  Whitlock. + 

Van  Der  Bilt  Whitlock. J 

Mrs.  Van  Der  Bilt  Whitlock. 

Miss  Mary  Anna  Whitlock.. 

"     Cluirlotte  S.  Witlock... 

John  V.  N.  Willis 

Mrs.  J.  V.  N.  Willis 

Asher  Wooley.  

Mrs.  Asher  Wooley 


Mar.  6,  '75. 
June  5,  '70. 
Oct.  14,  '48. 

June  5,  '69. 
Sept.  1,  '67. 
June  6,  '74. 

li       a      u 

Dec.  1,  '67. 
Sept.  4,  '6i'. 

Mar.  4,  '76. 

Mav  30,  '75. 
Mar.  1,  '62. 
Sept.  2,  '60. 
Dec.  3,  '70. 
Mar.  4,  '76. 
Jan.  8,  '43. 
Dec.  5,  '68. 
Mar.  4,  '76. 

"     3,  '77. 
June  3,  '76. 


Sept.  3, 
June  2, 
Mar.  4, 

Sept.  1, 

Dec.  6, 

Mar.  4, 

"     6, 

"      3, 
'     6, 


'59. 
'66. 
'76. 

W 

'73. 
'73. 
'76. 
'75. 

.i 

'77. 
"75. 


Apr.  2, 

'47. 

July  17 

'47 

Apr.  2, 

'47. 

Dec.  6, 

'62. 

Sept.  2, 

'76. 

Dec.  6, 

'62. 

Mar.  6, 

'58. 

"     -1. 

'76. 

June  1, 

'65. 

Mar.  2, 

'61. 

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REMAKK.S. 


Jane  Cherao. 
Sarah  Stuart. 


Catherine  A.  Thompson. 


Mary  Ann  Fielder. 
Mary  P.  Conover. 


Abhy  E.   Herbert. 
Son  of  Aaron. 
Rachel  M.  Rue. 


Elizabeth  Brown. 
Jane  L.  Morris. 
Madora  M.  Schenck. 
Ellen  Johnson. 


Rachel   Hampton. 


Eleanor  Conover. 


Mary  E.  Conover. 


Sarah  E.  Johnston. 
Joanna  Hardenbergh. 


J.  Elizabeth  VanDyck. 


Henrietta  Mapes. 


Jennette  Giliiand. 


Mary  Van  Der  Bilt. 
Rebecca  Whitlock. 


Ann  Schenck. 
Catherine  A.  Snyder. 


^6 

RECAPITULATION. 


Received  liy  Profession 178 

Certificate  53 

231 

lleceived  during  Rev.  Dr.  Van  Vranken's  Ministry 9 

•'  '•         •'       Mr.  Marcelius'  •         24 

"  "         "         "    Willis'  ■■■        fi5 

"  '•         "         "    Swain's  ••         4.') 

"  "     the  present  pastorate 88 

231 

No  longer  residing  in  the  (-ongregation 10 

Ministers  of  the  Gospel 3 


Under  the  Consistory's  care 218 

Males 67 

Females 151 

218 


PHOTOMOUNT 
PAMPHLET  BINDER 

•AYLOflD  BROS.  \m. 
Sirf*cut«>  N.  Y. 


